Oxygen Saturation in Relation to Flying Altitude. A Scoping Review Protocol.

Area of Science:

• Aviation Medicine
• Cardiopulmonary Physiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Decreased air pressure at altitude reduces oxygen partial pressure, leading to potential oxygen desaturation in passengers.
• Hypoxic symptoms during air travel can necessitate unscheduled aircraft diversions and landings, posing risks to passenger health.
• Individual susceptibility to hypoxia during flights is influenced by personal physical and medical conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the impact of reduced oxygen partial pressure on oxygen saturation due to cabin pressure decrease at aircraft altitudes.
• To assess the frequency of hypoxic symptoms reported in existing literature concerning air travel.
• To investigate the relationship between altitude, cabin pressure, and patient oxygenation during commercial flights.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review will be conducted following Cochrane Handbook and Joanna Briggs Institute Manual guidelines.
• The review question will be formulated using the Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, Study Design, Timeframe (PICOST) framework.
• All study designs will be eligible, excluding reviews, meta-analyses, comments/letters without original data, and limited case reports.

Main Results:

• The review will synthesize findings on oxygen saturation changes related to cabin pressure and altitude.
• The frequency of reported hypoxic symptoms during air travel will be quantified based on included studies.
• The relationship between flight altitude, cabin pressure, and passenger oxygenation will be elucidated.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the effects of cabin pressure on passenger oxygenation is crucial for aviation safety and medical preparedness.
• The findings will highlight the prevalence of hypoxia-related symptoms during air travel, informing potential interventions.
• This review will provide a comprehensive overview of the current evidence on passenger physiological responses to flight altitudes.