PULSE OXIMETRY AT MODERATE ALTITUDE - HEALTHY-CHILDREN AND CHILDREN WITH UPPER RESPIRATORY-INFECTION

Pulse oximetry is commonly used in both outpatient and inpatient setti ngs to assess children with respiratory illness. This study was design ed to obtain reference values for oxygen saturations in young children living at moderate altitude and to assess the impact of upper respira tory infection (URI) on oxygen saturation. We hypothesized that oxygen saturations of sick children at the University of Utah, Salt Lake Cit y (1,500 meters above sea level), would be lower than oxygen saturatio ns of those who were well. Eighty well children and 74 children with U RI and nasal congestion were recruited from the University of Utah Ped iatric Clinic. Subjects were 2 to 23 months of age. Oxygen saturations were recorded at 1-minute intervals for 5 minutes, and an average val ue was then calculated for each child. Mean oxygen saturation for well children (range 96% to 100%, mean 98.9%) corresponded to reported val ues at sea level. Oxygen saturations of children with URI were signifi cantly lower (mean 97.5%, P<.001).Although the difference between well and sick children was statistically significant, given the small diff erence, URI cannot be considered the cause of clinically significant o xygen desaturation in previously healthy children at moderate altitude .