Medical gases and long-term oxygen therapy: reducing the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease burden in aging populations in Sub-Saharan Africa

Igwe, Matthew Chibunna1,*,#; Alum, Esther Ugo2,#; Ogbuabor, Alphonsus Ogbonna3,#

Author Information

1Department of Public Health, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Kansanga, Uganda

2Department of Research and Publications, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda

3Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria

*Correspondence to: Esther Ugo Alum, PhD, esther.alum@kiu.ac.ug or alumesther79@gmail.com.

#These authors contributed equally to this work.

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global health challenge, disproportionately affecting aging populations in low- and middle-income countries, including Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). With an increasing prevalence driven by indoor air pollution, tobacco use, and occupational hazards, COPD remains underdiagnosed underdiagnosed and undertreated in the region due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure and resource constraints. This review highlights the critical role of medical gases, particularly long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT), in managing COPD, improving quality of life, and reducing mortality in patients with severe hypoxemia. Although LTOT is well-established in high-income countries, its implementation in SSA faces significant barriers, including limited access, cost, and insufficient awareness. This review analyzes COPD management, LTOT benefits, healthcare policies, and aging demographics in SSA, focusing on experimental studies and synthesizing data for coherence. Relevant articles in English published from 2014 to 2025 were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and WHO. Through a comprehensive analysis of the epidemiology of COPD in SSA, the challenges of integrating LTOT, and successful case studies from comparable regions, this review identifies key opportunities for addressing these gaps. Recommendations include strengthening healthcare infrastructure, fostering policy frameworks for LTOT integration, leveraging community engagement, and enhancing patient education. By addressing these challenges holistically and fostering regional and global collaborations, SSA can mitigate the growing burden of COPD and improve health outcomes for its aging populations.

摘要

慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）是一项全球重大健康挑战，对包括撒哈拉以南非洲（SSA）在内的中低收入国家的老龄化人口造成了尤为严重的影响。由于室内空气污染、烟草使用和职业性危害因素的驱动，其患病率不断上升，但因医疗基础设施不足和资源限制，该地区的COPD仍然诊断不足和治疗不足。本综述强调了医疗气体，特别是长期氧疗（LTOT），在管理COPD、改善严重低氧血症患者生活质量和降低其死亡率方面的关键作用。尽管LTOT在高收入国家已得到广泛应用，但在SSA地区的推广却面临着可及性有限、成本高昂和认知不足等重大障碍。本综述分析了SSA地区的COPD管理现状、LTOT的益处、医疗保健政策以及人口老龄化趋势，重点关注实验研究并综合数据以保持逻辑一致性。通过检索PubMed、Scopus和世界卫生组织数据库，获取了2014年至2025年间发表的英文相关文献。通过对SSA地区COPD流行病学、整合LTOT面临的挑战以及来自可比地区的成功案例研究进行综合分析，本综述指出了弥补这些差距的关键机遇。提出的建议包括加强医疗基础设施、制定支持LTOT整合的政策框架、利用社区参与以及加强患者教育。通过全面应对这些挑战并促进区域及全球合作，SSA地区有望减轻日益加重的COPD负担，并改善其老龄化人口的健康结局。