Air travel in patients on long term oxygen therapy: Lying low or flying high?

Introduction: Ambulatory oxygen (O 2 ) is recommended treatment for hypoxaemia at rest or induced by exercise. Commercial aircraft cabins are pressurized to altitudes of 6,000-8,000 feet, with an equivalent FiO 2 of 15%. O 2 supplementation, for those on baseline ambulatory O 2 , is paramount. Aims and Objectives: To gather information on patients9 experience travelling with supplementary oxygen and on reasons patients on O 2 do not travel. Methods: Patients were identified using a home oxygen database. Data were gathered by postal questionnaire. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analysed. Results: Between 2013 and 2015, 512 patients were entered on the database: 277 were excluded (269 had died, 34 had incomplete records). Two hundred and thirty five questionnaires were sent and 50 responses were received (21% response rate). Of these: 11 (22%) were returned as the patient had died, 20 (40%) had not travelled by air, 11 (22%) had flown with O 2 , 4 (8%) no longer used O 2 , 4 (8%) forms incomplete. Of those who travelled with O 2 : 54% found it complicated to organise, 72% found it complicated to access information, 63% felt the airlines where competent at managing ambulatory oxygen, 81% would fly again. Regarding those who had never flown with O 2 : 35% were unaware O 2 was available on commercial aircraft, 30% had no wish to travel, 30% had worries regarding their health. Conclusions: Air travel is challenging for patients requiring O 2 however those who do travel report a mainly positive experience. Increasing available information on options for travel on supplemental O 2 should help patients make an informed decision.