Bruera, E., Sweeney, C., Willey, J., Palmer, J.L., Strasser, F., Morice, R.C., et al. (2003). Randomized controlled trial of supplemental oxygen versus air in cancer patients with dyspnea. Palliative Medicine, 17(8), 659–663.

The objective of the study is to determine the effectiveness of oxygen versus air to decrease dyspnea and fatigue and to increase distance walked during a six-minute walk test.

Oxygen or air was delivered via nasal cannula during a six-minute walk test.

The study reported on a sample of 33 patients.

The study had the following inclusion criteria.

• Ambulatory patients with normal cognitive status
• Hemoglobin greater than 10
• No evidence of acute respiratory distress
• Resting pulse oxygenation percent greater than 90%

Patients were excluded if they were on oxygen therapy.

Double-blind, randomized, controlled crossover study

Fatigue and dyspnea were evaluated by a visual analog scale (0 = absence of symptoms and 10 = worst possible symptoms). Respiratory rate and heart rate were monitored. The outcomes measured were dyspnea at three and six minutes, fatigue at six minutes, and distance walked. This was repeated when patients received the crossover treatment. Patients and researchers both rated dyspnea. Oxygen saturation was measured at baseline before the crossover and at completion of the study.

No significant differences were noted between the two groups observed. Dyspnea score at three minutes, dyspnea score at six minutes, fatigue score at six minutes, and distance in feet walked at six minutes were not statically significant (p > 0.52). The authors concluded that the routine use of supplemental oxygen for dyspnea during exercise in this patient population cannot be recommended.

• The study had a small sample size of 33.
• It was a small single-site study.
• No pulse oximetry measurements were taken at the beginning or end of the six-minute exercise.