We found that patients with an acute exacerbation of
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treated with
titrated oxygen in the prehospital setting for an average
time of 45 minutes were less likely to develop respiratory acidosis and die than were patients treated with
high flow oxygen. Therefore, a dispersed population
and lengthy treatment and transport times may maximise the potential adverse effects of high concentration
oxygen treatment compared with areas and services
that may have short treatment times. The population
around Hobart is reasonably urbanised, but outlying
rural areas give a rather mixed population, ideal for a
generalisable study