Cognitive impairment in chronic respiratory disease patients using long-term oxygen therapy: a narrative review

Annaka, Hiroki*

Author Information

Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan

*Correspondence to: Hiroki Annaka, PhD, hiroki.annaka.n@gmail.com

Abstract

Long-term oxygen therapy is used to treat of chronic respiratory diseases with chronic hypoxia. To date, long-term oxygen therapy has significantly contributed to the relief of dyspnea in the daily life of patients with chronic respiratory disease and chronic hypoxemia. Chronic hypoxia is a possible cause of cognitive impairment, and patients with chronic respiratory disease using long-term oxygen therapy with severe chronic hypoxia may be at a higher risk of cognitive impairment than patients using non-long-term oxygen therapy. Cognitive impairment in patients with chronic respiratory disease can lead to a decline in treatment adherence, including medication usage, health care check-ups, and smoking cessation efforts, which contribute to disease progression. In addition, patients using long-term oxygen therapy require oxygen delivery equipment. Operating oxygen delivery equipment is difficult for patients with cognitive impairment, and the inability to use long-term oxygen therapy properly is a serious challenge that can affect their life expectancy. Patients with chronic respiratory disease who use long-term oxygen therapy may be more affected by cognitive impairment than non-long-term oxygen therapy patients. Several review articles have addressed cognitive impairment in patients with chronic respiratory disease; however, none specifically focus on patients with chronic respiratory disease using long-term oxygen therapy. This narrative review describes the current knowledge and future issues regarding cognitive impairment in patients with chronic respiratory disease using the long-term oxygen therapy.

摘要

长期氧疗用于治疗伴有慢性低氧的慢性呼吸系统疾病。迄今为止，长期氧疗在缓解慢性呼吸系统疾病合并慢性低氧血症患者的日常呼吸困难方面做出了重要贡献。慢性低氧可能是认知功能障碍的一个原因，而使用长期氧疗且伴有严重慢性低氧的慢性呼吸系统疾病患者，其认知功能障碍的风险可能高于未使用长期氧疗的患者。慢性呼吸系统疾病患者的认知功能障碍可能导致治疗依从性下降，包括药物使用、医疗检查和戒烟努力，这些都会促使疾病进展。此外，使用长期氧疗的患者需要操作输氧设备。对于认知功能障碍的患者来说，操作输氧设备存在困难，无法正确使用长期氧疗是一个严峻挑战，可能影响其预期寿命。使用长期氧疗的慢性呼吸系统疾病患者，其认知功能可能比未使用长期氧疗的患者受到更大影响。已有若干综述文章探讨了慢性呼吸系统疾病患者的认知功能障碍问题，但尚未有专门关注使用长期氧疗的慢性呼吸系统疾病患者的研究。这篇叙述性综述阐述了关于使用长期氧疗的慢性呼吸系统疾病患者认知功能障碍的当前认识和未来问题。