Home oxygenation would be more effective

EDITOR—Inwald et al in their article report that the use of oxygen in general practice may result in decreased asthma mortality because progressive hypoxaemia is probably an important cause of death, and oxygen should be the first treatment given to any patient with acute severe asthma.1 There is, however, another measure to implement a similar intervention policy for more specific groups at high risk of death from asthma.

Since the patients with even a single episode requiring intubation for severe asthma are at very high risk of recurring life threatening attacks and death, and since most asthma deaths take place at home, a trial of providing oxygen at home for emergency use for possible severe attacks in this …