@article {Campbellrespcare.05522, author = {Christina D Campbell and Matthew W Smyth and Lindsay Brown and Emer Kelly}, title = {Air Travel for Subjects Receiving Long-Term Oxygen Therapy}, elocation-id = {respcare.05522}, year = {2018}, doi = {10.4187/respcare.05522}, publisher = {Respiratory Care}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Ambulatory oxygen (O2) is the recommended treatment for hypoxemia at rest or induced by exercise. Commercial aircraft often fly at altitudes of 30,000 feet; their cabins are pressurized to altitudes of 6,000{\textendash}8,000 feet, with an equivalent FIO2 of 0.15.O2 supplementation, for those receiving baseline ambulatory O2, is paramount.METHODS: We gathered information on subjects{\textquoteright} experience traveling with supplementary oxygen and reasons individuals receiving O2 do not travel. Subjects were identified using a home oxygen database. Data were gathered by postal questionnaire. The objective of this study was to gather information relevant to subjects{\textquoteright} experience organizing travel with supplementary oxygen and their experience of traveling itself.RESULTS: Between 2013 and 2015, 512 patients were entered into the database: 277 were excluded (269 had died, 8 had incomplete records). We sent 235 questionnaires, and 50 responses were received (21\% response rate). Of these, 11 (22\%) were returned as the patient had died, 20 (40\%) had not traveled by air, 11 (22\%) had flown with O2, 4 (8\%) no longer used O2, and 4 (8\%) forms were incomplete. Of those who traveled with O2, 54\% found it complicated to organize their trip, 72\% found it complicated to access information, and 81\% would fly again. Regarding those who had never flown with O2, 35\% were unaware that O2 was available on commercial aircraft, 30\% had no wish to travel, and 30\% had worries regarding their health.CONCLUSIONS: Air travel is challenging; however, those who did travel reported a mainly positive experience. Increasing available information on options for travel should help individuals.}, issn = {0020-1324}, URL = {https://rc.rcjournal.com/content/early/2018/02/06/respcare.05522}, eprint = {https://rc.rcjournal.com/content/early/2018/02/06/respcare.05522.full.pdf}, journal = {Respiratory Care} }