Supplemental oxygen increases arterial stiffness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Published in: Respiratory medicine 2004, Vol.98 (1), p.84-89
• Main Authors: Bartels, Matthew N., Jelic, Sanja, Basner, Robert C., Ngai, Pakkay, Gonzalez, John M., De Meersman, Ronald E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Arterial augmentation index; Baroreceptor sensitivity; Baroreflex; Biological and medical sciences; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Cross-Over Studies; Elasticity; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Oxygen - blood; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Oxygen supplementation; Pneumology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - physiopathology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - therapy; Radial Artery - physiopathology; Single-Blind Method; Vascular Resistance; Vasomotor System; Vital Capacity
• ISSN: 0954-6111; 1532-3064
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2002.09.001

Study objectives: Recently, we demonstrated significantly improved baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and autonomic balance after 31% supplemental oxygen (S uppO 2) in resting patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In order to investigate whether peripheral arterial stiffness changes may play a role, we evaluated changes in peripheral arterial stiffness and BRS after S uppO 2. Design: Single blinded crossover design. Setting: Pulmonary exercise testing laboratory. Participants: Seventy subjects with moderate to severe COPD. Interventions: We measured arterial vascular stiffness using the augmentation index via contour analysis of the radial pulse obtained from applanation tonometry. BRS was derived using the sequence method before and after treatments with compressed air (CA) and 30% S uppO 2 in 70 individuals with COPD via a counterbalanced crossover design. Results: Paired t-tests indicated significant differences in oxygen saturation (SaO 2) following S uppO 2 when compared to CA ( x̄ 96.0±2.0% S uppO 2 versus x̄ 92.6±3.6% CA, P