Variability of pulse oximetry measurement over 1 year in children with sickle cell disease depends on initial oxygen saturation measurement

• Published in: Pediatric blood & cancer Vol. 54; no. 7; pp. 1017 - 1019
• Main Authors: Mullin, Jonathan E., Cooper, Ben, Seicean, Sinziana, Strunk, Robert, Rosen, Carol, Redline, Susan, Kemp, James, DeBaun, Michael R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.07.2010
• Subjects: Adolescent; Anemia, Sickle Cell - blood; Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Oximetry - methods; Oxygen - blood; pulse oximetry; sickle cell disease
• ISSN: 1545-5009; 1545-5017
• DOI: 10.1002/pbc.22420

A prospective cohort of children with sickle cell disease (SCD) was evaluated to determine the variability of daytime pulse oximetry among three measurements over approximately 1 year. Fifty‐eight participants were evaluated. Asymptomatic children with initial oxygen saturation ≤92% had a mean range over 1 year of 4.6% (2.1–7.5%). In contrast, asymptomatic children whose oxygen saturation was >92% had a mean range of 1.9% (0–5.5%). These results suggest, changes in pulse oximetry measurement of approximately 5% may not be clinically significant in otherwise, healthy children with SCD with previous pulse oximetry ≤92%. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010;54:1017–1019 © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.