ArticleRespiratory research2025
FlexO2: A patient-controlled oxygen flow selector improving autonomy and daily function in long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT).
Article in Respiratory research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundChronic respiratory insufficiency associated with severe resting hypoxemia necessitates long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT), yet existing devices often impede daily activities due to cumbersome flow adjustments, increasing reliance on caregivers. FlexO2 is a novel mechanical regulator that enables switching between preset oxygen flow rates for rest and activity. This proof-of-concept study evaluated its impact on patient autonomy, physical activity, and quality of life.
methodsIn a consecutive, non-randomized pre-post intervention proof-of-concept study at Karolinska University Hospital, 26 patients on LTOT (median age 77; 69% COPD) used FlexO2 for three months. The device, worn around the neck, allowed patients to self-adjust oxygen doses without accessing the concentrator. Outcomes included ease of use measured by visual analogue scale (VAS), physical activity levels, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), EQ-5D-5 L index, and frequency of dose adjustments.
resultsEase of dose adjustment increased from a VAS score of 14 to 92 (p < 0.001), with 92% of patients reporting improved ease of adjustment (baseline 7.7%; p < 0.001). Daily adjustment frequency doubled (8 to 15; p = 0.001). Patient-reported activity capacity improved from a VAS of 11 to 80 (p < 0.001). Quality-of-life scores measured by VAS increased from 19 to 61 (p < 0.001), while CAT scores decreased from a median of 26.0 to 22.5 (p = 0.05). The EQ-5D-5 L index remained stable (0.68 to 0.70; p = 0.7), although 38% of patients showed individual improvements. Device usability was high (83% satisfaction), though 15% reported tubing tangling or airflow issues.
conclusionFlexO2 significantly improved the ease of oxygen dose adjustment and physical activity capacity, potentially enhancing patient autonomy in LTOT. While overall patient-reported quality-of-life scores improved, objective quality-of-life outcomes remained stable. Further studies are warranted to explore long-term clinical outcomes and the potential impact on caregiver burden.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.