NIHR pulse oximetry study

The Intensive Care Society welcomes the publication in of the largest study to date examining the impact of skin tone on the accuracy of pulse oximeters used within the NHS.

This national, multicentre study of more than 900 critically ill adults confirms that commonly used pulse oximeters systematically overestimate blood oxygen saturation in individuals with darker skin tones.

Although the absolute differences are small, the clinical consequences can be significant: patients with darker skin are more likely to experience missed hypoxaemia and delayed escalation of care, while patients with lighter skin are more likely to receive unnecessary intervention.

Concerns that the variance in pulse oximetry performance according to skin tone, would contribute to diagnostic bias and exacerbate health inequalities were first raised by the Society in 2021.