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Reference values for oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry in healthy children at sea level in Chennai

S Balasubramanian1, N Suresh, C Ravichandran

  • 1Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. sbsped53@sify.com

Annals of Tropical Paediatrics
|May 20, 2006
PubMed

Insights

This study establishes normal oxygen saturation (SaO2) reference values for healthy children in Chennai, India. Mean SaO2 was 99%, with a lower limit of 96.6% for children aged 1 month to 5 years.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Clinical Physiology

Background:

  • Limited data exists on normal oxygen saturation (SaO2) levels in children residing in developing nations.
  • Establishing accurate reference ranges is crucial for diagnosing respiratory conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine pulse oximetry-based reference values for oxygen saturation in healthy children.
  • The study focused on children aged 1 month to 5 years living at sea level in Chennai, India.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study was conducted at Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital.
  • 626 healthy children aged 1 month to 5 years were assessed for heart rate, respiratory rate, and SaO2.

Main Results:

  • The overall mean and median SaO2 for all children was 99%.
  • Mean SaO2 levels varied by age group, ranging from 98.5% to 99.1%.
  • The mean lower limit of normal (mean -2 SD) for SaO2 was 96.6% across all age groups.

Conclusions:

  • The reference range for mean SaO2 in healthy Chennai children (1 month to 5 years) is 98.5% or higher.
  • The mean lower limit of normal (mean -2 SD) for SaO2 was determined to be 96.6%.
Abstract

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