Inaccurate pulse oximeter readings tied to less supplemental oxygen for darker-skinned ICU patients
Patients with darker skin who received less accurate readings of their oxygen levels using pulse oximeters — the ubiquitous devices clamped on hospitalized patients’ fingers — also received less supplemental oxygen during ICU stays, according to a study published Monday.
The new research in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine adds to the evidence that the faulty readings in darker-skinned patients can affect their care and may be one factor explaining racial disparities, such as higher rates of limb loss and death for Black and Hispanic ICU patients.
