[Oxygen saturation and activities of daily living among a senile population]

To evaluate the relationship between arterial oxygen saturation and activities of daily living (ADL) among a senile population, especially the handicapped.

Forty-eight elderly patients in a facility were divided into three groups according to ambulatory ability. The were 10 independents who could walk by themselves, 18 semi-independents who needed wheelchairs, and 20 fully handicapped residents who were permanently bedridden and needed stretchers for transportation. Pulse oxymetry was monitored, and the survival rate after 24 months and the cause of death were recorded.

Pulse oxymetry data showed SpO2 was 97.0 +/- 1.7% in independents, 96.0 +/- 2.1% in semi-independents, and 94.6 +/- 2.5% in fully handicapped residents (significantly lower than the other two groups). Survival rates after 24 months were 90%, 89%, and 35% in each group, respectively, and 50% of the patients died of pneumonia, not related to the low arterial oxygen saturation.

Though arterial oxygen saturation is not a predictive factor for pneumonia and death in senile residents, it is significantly lower in handicapped patients and can be a good monitoring parameter at home.