Document Type

Abstract

Publication Date

2-11-2026

Academic Year

2025-2026

Comments

Presented at the 2026 Scholarly Inquiry (SI) Research Project Symposium.

Abstract

Introduction/Purpose: Oxygen therapy is widely utilized for cases of hypoxemia. However, limited data evaluate the adverse effects of oxygen therapy in large cohorts. We hypothesize oxygen therapy correlates to an increased rate of trips, falls, and fractures, potentially due to limited mobility and the oxygen tubing posing a hazard.

Methods: TriNetX, a deidentified electronic health record database, was utilized to create two cohorts. Both cohorts consisted of patients with a COPD diagnosis, validated with PFTs. One group had the criterion of “dependence on supplemental oxygen,” while the other group had it excluded. In order to have more balanced cohorts, both groups were adjusted for baseline characteristics including age, race, sex, steroid use, nicotine dependence, alcohol disorder, history of falling, rheumatoid arthritis and BMI.

Results/Conclusions: In matched cohorts, the group with supplemental oxygen had a significantly higher rate of “slipping, tripping, stumbling, and falls” (RR 1.70, 95% CI: 1.52– 1.90, p< 0.001) when evaluated at 3 months, and at six months (RR 1.58, 95% CI: 1.45–1.73, p< 0.0001). Lower leg fractures, including ankle fractures, were statistically significant in the oxygen group as well, at both 3 months (RR 1.62, 95% CI: 1.23–2.12, p=0.0004) and at 6 months (RR 1.62, 95% CI: 1.28–2.06, p< 0.001). These results suggest that COPD patients with supplemental oxygen face a higher risk of fractures and falls when on oxygen. This underscores the need for targeted patient education on fall prevention strategies.

Additional Files
Marhefka_Matthew_poster.pdf (402 kB)

Language

English

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