Event Title
Racial Disparities among Pulse Oximetry readings and Possible effects on COVID -19 outcomes
Location
Moultrie, GA
Start Date
4-5-2022 1:00 PM
End Date
4-5-2022 4:00 PM
Description
INTRODUCTION: During the height of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, also known as COVID-19, clinicians warned the public of a significant symptom of COVID-19 called "silent hypoxemia," where patients presented with low oxygen saturation levels and no dyspnea. Pulse oximetry is a critical component of evaluating the severity of arterial deoxygenation. However, studies have shown discrepancies in these readings amongst deep skin tone individuals or individuals with higher levels of active melanocytes. Data from recent studies have shown that black patients had almost three times the frequency of occult hypoxemia that was not detected by pulse oximetry. Due to the importance of pulse oximetry in medical decision-making, these findings may have some implications that may play a major role in COVID-19 health outcomes in marginalized communities.
OBJECTIVE: The study's primary objective is to bring awareness of pulse oximetry discrepancies and discuss the role and provide solutions that will reduce these discrepancies in COVID-19 health outcomes in marginalized communities.
METHODS: The design of this study is a systematic review and data extraction of relevant articles that discuss pulse oximetry and racial disparities associated with pulse oximetry technology.
RESULTS: Searches identified 21,431 citations with relative pulse oximetry accuracy and data related to COVID-19 health outcomes. Some data extractions provided significant evidence that the inaccuracy of these pulse oximetry readings resulted in late intubation and unnecessary intubations, which may have played an essential role in the increased mortality rate for black patients.
CONCLUSION: This is a research proposal that is still ongoing. Current independent reviews of individual articles are still being analyzed.
Racial Disparities among Pulse Oximetry readings and Possible effects on COVID -19 outcomes
Moultrie, GA
INTRODUCTION: During the height of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, also known as COVID-19, clinicians warned the public of a significant symptom of COVID-19 called "silent hypoxemia," where patients presented with low oxygen saturation levels and no dyspnea. Pulse oximetry is a critical component of evaluating the severity of arterial deoxygenation. However, studies have shown discrepancies in these readings amongst deep skin tone individuals or individuals with higher levels of active melanocytes. Data from recent studies have shown that black patients had almost three times the frequency of occult hypoxemia that was not detected by pulse oximetry. Due to the importance of pulse oximetry in medical decision-making, these findings may have some implications that may play a major role in COVID-19 health outcomes in marginalized communities.
OBJECTIVE: The study's primary objective is to bring awareness of pulse oximetry discrepancies and discuss the role and provide solutions that will reduce these discrepancies in COVID-19 health outcomes in marginalized communities.
METHODS: The design of this study is a systematic review and data extraction of relevant articles that discuss pulse oximetry and racial disparities associated with pulse oximetry technology.
RESULTS: Searches identified 21,431 citations with relative pulse oximetry accuracy and data related to COVID-19 health outcomes. Some data extractions provided significant evidence that the inaccuracy of these pulse oximetry readings resulted in late intubation and unnecessary intubations, which may have played an essential role in the increased mortality rate for black patients.
CONCLUSION: This is a research proposal that is still ongoing. Current independent reviews of individual articles are still being analyzed.