#Pulse oximeter reading skin#

A sensitivity analysis restricting to a 10-min window did not alter these differences. There were differences in the mean difference between oxygen saturations as measured by pulse oximetry compared to arterial blood gas (p=0.02, ANOVA) with the highest differential in the Mixed ethnic group (+6.9% 95% Confidence Interval CI: −21.9 to +35.8) and the lowest in the White group (+3.2% 95% CI: −22.8 to +29.1), with those in the Black group (+5.4 95% CI: −25.9 to +36.8) and Asian group (+5.1% 95% CI: −23.8 to 34.0) having intermediate differentials. We identified 2997 eligible patients with 5374 paired oxygen saturations recorded in their routine electronic observations within 30 min of an arterial blood gas. NUH Clinical Effectiveness Team audit (reference: 21-294C) gave approval for these analyses. Īnalyses were performed using R statistical software. Due to the small numbers of individuals labelled as Black, Asian and Mixed ethnic group, a final comparison of these combined categories was compared with the much larger White ethnic group for a final analysis to generate a simple output that can be disseminated to increase clinical awareness of these issues, while concurring with current guidance on describing and reporting ethnicity.

A mixed effect linear models of the difference between oximetry and blood gas oxygen saturation by ethnicity (Either White or Black, Asian or Mixed ethnicity) using patient as a random intercept were fitted. Mean differences between oximetry and blood gas were stratified by recorded ethnicity of White, Mixed, Asian, Black and also stratified by level of oxygen saturation as measured by arterial blood gases. Data from Intensive Care Units were not available.

A 10-min window between paired samples was assessed as a sensitivity analysis. Pulse oximetry measurements with a paired blood gas measurement within a 30-min time window were used as the primary outcome. We used routinely collected electronic data for patients admitted to Nottingham University Hospitals NHS trust between 1 February 2020 and 5 September 2021 with either suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2. We have used data from patients with Covid-19 infection to explore the differential in difference of blood oxygen levels as measured by pulse oximetry and arterial blood gases stratified by different ethnic groups over a wide range of oxygen saturations.

#Pulse oximeter reading skin#

The natural history of Covid-19 infection is modified by ethnic group and individuals with more pigmented skin generally have a higher risk of severe disease.

A recent study of paired measures of oxygen saturation from pulse oximetry and arterial blood gas reported differing outputs in patients with black skin compared to patients with white skin that has the potential to adversely impact on patient care. The light wave transmission that this technology uses is modified by skin pigmentation and thus may vary by skin colour. The pulse oximeter provides regular non-invasive measurements of blood oxygenation and is used in a wide range of clinical settings.