Exploring Pulse OXimeter Accuracy Across SKin Tones

Research question: What is the diagnostic accuracy of different pulse oximeters at peripheral oxygen saturation levels (SpO2) relevant to their use by patients at home and how does this vary in people with darker skin pigmentation?

Primary objective: To compare pulse oximeter-derived SpO2 values to co-oximeter-derived arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) measurements from arterial blood gas (ABG) samples, for a range of fingertip pulse oximeters in an ethnically diverse group of adult patients with a broad spectrum of skin tones admitted to UK intensive care units (ICUs).

Design: This study within a trial (SWAT) that will form an observational sub-study of the NIHR HTA funded UK-ROX trial (https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR130508), which is currently running in ICUs across the UK. Twenty four ICUs enrolling patients into the UK-ROX trial trial will be randomly allocated two brands of pulse oximeter to evaluate. Over a period of 24 hours for each participant, SpO2 values from the test pulse oximeters will be compared to simultaneous SaO2 values from ABG samples analysed on a standard ICU ABG co-oximeter machine. Patient skin tone will be objectively measured using a handheld spectrophotometer. The difference between SpO2 and SaO2 will be compared across skin tones and across a range of arterial oxygenation levels.

Setting: The UK-ROX trial is large-scale, multi-centre, data-enabled, registry embedded randomised controlled trial (RCT) evaluating conservative oxygen therapy (a target SpO2 of 88-92%) versus usual oxygen therapy in mechanically ventilated adult patients admitted to ICUs in the United Kingdom.

Target population: 900 mechanically ventilated adults screened for enrolment into the UK-ROX trial.

Primary outcome: The accuracy of SpO2 measurement in the evaluated pulse oximeters, validated against co-oximeter-derived SaO2 ABG sample analysis.

Inclusion criteria

are for those of the main UK-ROX trial:

• Adult (aged ≥18 years)
• Receiving invasive mechanical ventilation in the ICU following an unplanned ICU admission OR invasive mechanical ventilation started in the ICU (i.e. the patient was intubated in the ICU).
• Receiving supplemental oxygen (> 21% oxygen) at the time of enrolment

Exclusion criteria

are for those of the main UK-ROX trial:

• The clinician considers that one study treatment arm is either indicated or contraindicated.

In order in increase the number of patients eligible for this observational diagnostic accuracy study, we will have also received ethical approval to enrol mechanically ventilated adult patients who have been screened for, but not enrolled into, the UK-ROX trial. These may include patients who missed the 12 hour recruitment window for the main trial and patients in whom the clinical team decided that one study treatment arm is either indicated or contraindicated.