Trial reportBMJ open respiratory research2026
Portable low-flow nasal oxygen versus ambient air in patients with chronic lung disease and exercise-induced hypoxaemia: a randomised controlled crossover non-inferiority trial.
Trial report in BMJ open respiratory research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06385301 (Exercise Performance on Ambient Air vs. Commonly Prescribed Nasal Low Oxygen Therapy - a Non-Inferiority Trial in Patients With Exercise Induced Desaturation Due to Chronic Lung Diseases), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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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.
Exercise Performance on Ambient Air vs. Commonly Prescribed Nasal Low Oxygen Therapy - a Non-Inferiority Trial in Patients With Exercise Induced Desaturation Due to Chronic Lung Diseases
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
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Authors and funding
12 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundExercise-induced desaturation is a common symptom in chronic lung disease (CLD) and is associated with functional limitation and increased mortality. Although portable low-flow supplemental oxygen therapy (SOT) is commonly prescribed for exercise-induced hypoxaemia, evidence for SOT to improve performance is inconsistent.
methodThis pragmatic, randomised, controlled, non-inferiority crossover trial enrolled patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary and interstitial lung disease who exhibited exercise-induced oxygen desaturation of >3%. Each patient performed two 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) tests in randomised order: one breathing ambient air and one using low-flow SOT delivered by a portable backpack concentrator (1-2 L/min). The primary outcome was 6MWD, secondary outcomes included perceived exertion and preference of the interventions. A predefined non-inferiority margin of 35 m was used.
resultsForty patients were enrolled (mean age 66±13 years; 14 women; 20 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 20 with interstitial lung disease (ILD)). The mean difference in 6MWD between ambient air and SOT was 0 m (95% CI -14 to 13 m; p<0.001 for non-inferiority). Secondary outcomes demonstrated significantly lower dyspnoea scores with SOT both overall and within COPD/ILD subgroups. Patient preferences were split, with 49% favouring ambient air and 51% preferring SOT. A clinically meaningful improvement in 6MWD of >35 m was found in five patients.
conclusionIn patients with CLD and exercise-induced desaturation, ambient air was non-inferior to pulsed low-dose SOT by portable concentrator in 6MWD, but SOT improved dyspnoea. These findings highlight the need for more effective, patient-acceptable oxygen delivery systems and further research to identify responders to SOT. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT06385301.
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