RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Pulse Oximeter Performance, Racial Inequity, and the Work Ahead
JF Respiratory Care
FD American Association for Respiratory Care
SP 252
OP 257
DO 10.4187/respcare.09795
VO 67
IS 2
A1 Okunlola, Olubunmi E
A1 Lipnick, Michael S
A1 Batchelder, Paul B
A1 Bernstein, Michael
A1 Feiner, John R
A1 Bickler, Philip E
YR 2022
UL http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/67/2/252.abstract
AB It has long been known that many pulse oximeters function less accurately in patients with darker skin. Reasons for this observation are incompletely characterized and potentially enabled by limitations in existing regulatory oversight. Based on decades of experience and unpublished data, we believe it is feasible to fully characterize, in the public domain, the factors that contribute to missing clinically important hypoxemia in patients with darkly pigmented skin. Here we propose 5 priority areas of inquiry for the research community and actionable changes to current regulations that will help improve oximeter accuracy. We propose that leading regulatory agencies should immediately modify standards for measuring accuracy and precision of oximeter performance, analyzing and reporting performance outliers, diversifying study subject pools, thoughtfully defining skin pigmentation, reporting data transparently, and accounting for performance during low-perfusion states. These changes will help reduce bias in pulse oximeter performance and improve access to safe oximeters.