Can pulse oximetry select patients for screening spirometry?

Abstract

Pulse oximetry is not a useful test for selecting patients for screening spirometry in order to diagnose COPD.

Pulse oximetry in general practice: How would a pulse oximeter influence patient management?

“…However, Garcia-Pachon (11) found that 23% of the patients in this study with significant COPD (FEV 1 B50% predicted) went undetected when using an arterial oxygen saturation of 98%, and that when pulse oximetry was used for the detection of patients with FEV 1 B80% predicted, results were also poor. These findings suggests that pulse oximetry alone in general practice is not sufficient for the diagnosis of COPD, although it may well still be a useful tool to provide evidence of failing lungs.…”

“…One study sought to evaluate whether the measurement of arterial oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry can select patients who are suitable for screening spirometry. It concluded that although arterial oxygen saturation levels correlated with FEV 1 , pulse oximetry was not a useful test for the selection of patients for screening spirometry and should be based on other findings (11).…”

Predictors of oxygen saturation ≤95% in a cross-sectional population based survey

“…One study applied pulse oximetry in the selection of patients for spirometry in order to diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but was not found useful. 1 There is no clear cut-off point for abnormal oxygen saturation, but SpO 2 95% is used in some studies. 2 Resting SpO 2 95% has been found to predict oxygen desaturation during sleep 3 and during exercise 4 in COPD patients.…”

Pulse oximetry in primary care: primary care diagnostic technology update

“…Oxygen saturations are not useful for diagnosis of COPD; saturations of <98% had sensitivity of 79%, but specificity of only 37%. 5 However, pulse oximetry could have a valuable role in determining long-term oxygen therapy criteria in patients with COPD, and in indicating the need for referral to hospital in acute exacerbations. 6 • In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is pulse oximetry effective in assessing the need for long-term oxygen therapy, compared to arterial blood gas?…”