Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that using a pulse oximeter to measure blood oxygen levels is no more effective than regularly asking COVID-19 patients if they have shortness of breath. Research published New England Journal of Medicine.
Pulse oximeters have become commonplace due to concerns that COVID patients may not notice a dangerous drop in their blood oxygen levels. As part of the COVID Watch study, scientists tracked the health of more than 2,000 sick people who did not require hospitalization. Twice a day for two weeks, these patients were sent text messages automatically asking how they were feeling and if they were short of breath.
The surveillance program alone reduced mortality by 68%. But the addition of pulse oximetry didn’t save more lives or keep more people out of the hospital. In addition, the use of pulse oximeters did not even relieve the patients’ anxiety.
At the beginning of the epidemic, the use of pulse oximeters seemed logical. But a new study has shown that this approach may not have real benefits.