Understanding and Interpreting SpO2 Oximetry Reports

[jimD]

Has anyone found an information source that can help me better understand and interpret those incredible Oximetry Reports produced by SpO2 Review?

Though I have figured out what most of the "Event Data" column items mean, I have no idea if my numbers are good, bad or somewhere in between. Some basic guidelines would be invaluable.

I do have two specific questions:

What does "% Artifact" mean? My % Artifact numbers seem to be much higher than others I've seen in this forum.
How is the Adjusted Index (1/hr) calculated?

[ozij]

Artifact, in any context that attempts measurement, means that this result is unreliable -- caused by something other than that which is being measured.

If you wanted to measure the air temperature, and put the thermometer on the bonnet of a black car at noon on a sunny summer day, the high temprature measurement would be an artifcact, caused by the bonnet's temperature, not the air.

In pulse oximeters, and aritfact is a result of the sensor's movement.

[allwxrider]

Is there any info (website?) that shows how bad is bad for SpO2?

I dropped to 79% during the non-treated phase of my sleep study. How bad is that?

I am a Newbie, due to insurance rules, I have to rent a machine for 3 months...now awaiting DME response.

[JohnBFisher]

79% is considered low, since insurance companies require 88% or less before they pay for supplemental oxygen. Of course, if you problem was obstructive sleep apnea and a CPAP unit corrects that issue, your SpO2 readings should head back toward normal (above 90%).

Here's a page that provides some explanation on how to read a pulse oximeter:

http://www.howtodothings.com/health-and ... meter.html

[torontoCPAPguy]

Is there any info (website?) that shows how bad is bad for SpO2?

I dropped to 79% during the non-treated phase of my sleep study. How bad is that?

I am a Newbie, due to insurance rules, I have to rent a machine for 3 months...now awaiting DME response.

79% is indeed low. While in hospital they told me that I was not going home until I worked and got my SO2 at rest to over 90%. Sometimes all it took was a few deep breaths when I saw the nurse coming into the room to measure it. Eventually, my SO2 would be closer to 100% while walking (for a variety of reasons). At sleep it was dropping down to 70% and the result was simple; my blood pressure went through the roof literally. It was killing me. Period. I was told that my tombstone would say "He was a gentle man who died peacefully in his sleep...." of blood pressure right off the chart and a popped Aorta as a result.

Thus the blower. It is very mild sleep apnea that I have but apnea nontheless. But this is topped by the fact that my breathing becomes so very shallow as I fall deeper asleep.

And having said all of this, we have friends who are quite ill and their SO2 in motion is in the 50%ish range. And they seem to have a decent quality of life but will not live a full life nor as productive a life as they otherwise would have.

I am intent on getting an oximeter(wrist type and recording memory) and am trying to find out what the best tool for the job is at a reasonable price. It would be nice if it output the data to a graphical display so I could corelate it to my apnea).

The bottom line is this. Low SpO2 is not a healthy thing for you and your body will take a hell of a pummelling from it. The problem is that when you get up and about and to the MD's office or to have blood drawn or have it measured, it's going to be a whole lot better than while you are sleeping. It should not be difficult to find information on low blood oxygen and its consequences but the bottom line, again, is that it is a silent killer. It will drive you blood pressure through the roof while you are not looking and produce all of the consequences related to that condition.... my blood pressure was so high at times that they really though I would pop an artery. I feel blessed to be here to tell the story.

[ozij]

Just remember that at a higher altitude, expected saturation is lower.

The following paper looks promising:

VARIATIONS IN PHYSICIAN INTERPRETATION OF OVERNIGHT PULSE OXIMETRY MONITORING
O.

[allwxrider]

Very interesting paper...I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and have visited 8 docs and had all kinds of tests and interpretations. Finally one doc mentioned Sleep Apnea.

An overnight recording SpO2 is a cheap medical device, but if interpretation is in question, docs will shy away from it.

It would be nice to run a Pilot Study by a Medical University and correlate overnight SpO2 data with healthy and ill ppl. I'll mention it to my Sleep Doc, maybe if enuf of us ask for it, some Univ will do it. Med students are always looking for papers to research and publish. No dissertation, no PhD.

[JohnBFisher]

Not all people with sleep apnea have severe O2 desaturations. But distrubed sleep cycles still cause serious harm. Not all people with severe O2 desaturations have sleep apnea. That's why it's not used as a diagnostic tool as an at home sleep diagnostic tool.

[David WM]

Has anyone found an information source that can help me better understand and interpret those incredible Oximetry Reports produced by SpO2 Review?

Though I have figured out what most of the "Event Data" column items mean, I have no idea if my numbers are good, bad or somewhere in between. Some basic guidelines would be invaluable.

I do have two specific questions:

What does "% Artifact" mean? My % Artifact numbers seem to be much higher than others I've seen in this forum.
How is the Adjusted Index (1/hr) calculated?

Good questions, I am trying to find some info online myself to help me understand my reports from SpO2 Review and Google search brought me here. Perhaps someone here can help?

[wiredowl7]

I just bought this item from ebay and it works great. You can record in realtime or while sleeping for up to 24 hours.
I paid 36$ for it but the price has gone up to 44.29$

USA Stock CMS50D+ Plus OLED Fingertip Pulse Oximeter Spo2 Monitor Free Software