HealthLeaders Media June 6, 2022
Researchers show that pulse oximetry, which is a gatekeeper in treatment decisions for COVID-19 patients, overestimates blood oxygen levels in people of color.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
– When compared to White COVID-19 patients, pulse oximetry overestimated blood oxygen levels by 1.7% for Asian patients, 1.2% for Black patients, and 1.1% for non-Black Hispanic patients.
– Compared to White COVID-19 patients, Black patients were 29% less likely to have their treatment eligibility recognized by pulse oximetry and non-Black Hispanic patients were 23% less likely to have their treatment eligibility recognized by pulse oximetry.
In a new study involving more than 7,000 COVID-19 patients, pulse oximeter devices overestimated blood oxygen levels in Asian, Black, and non-Black Hispanic patients, which could have affected their...
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