August 13, 2020

Novel Use of Home Pulse Oximetry Monitoring in COVID‐19 Patients Discharged From the Emergency Department Identifies Need for Hospitalization

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Clinical Characteristics and Health Care Setting

• Shah et al. assessed the use of home pulse oximetry as a monitoring tool to identify the need for hospitalization among 77 patients with initially non-severe COVID-19 in Chicago, including 22 (29%) who subsequently required hospitalization. They found that low resting oxygen saturation (SpO2 <92%) was associated with an increased likelihood of hospitalization (RR=7.0, 95%CI 3.4-14.5). Half of patients who required hospitalization had SpO2 < 92% without worsening symptoms.  

Shah et al. (July 23, 2020). Novel Use of Home Pulse Oximetry Monitoring in COVID‐19 Patients Discharged From the Emergency Department Identifies Need for Hospitalization. Academic Emergency Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1111/acem.14053