CORRELATION BETWEEN SEVERITY OF ASTHMA ATTACK AND OXYGEN SATURATION MEASURED WITH PULSE OXYMETER (SpO2)

We measured oxygen saturation with a pulse oxymeter (SpO2) among five groups in order to re-evaluate the normal value and the value for asthma attacks with ascending degree of severity: non-asthmatics, childhood asthmatics without attack, with mild, moderate and svere attack. Values were as follows: non-asthmatics (n=118) 98.1±0.7%, asthmatics without attack (n=127) 97.9±0.8%, mild attack (n=31) 96.7±0.7%, moderate attack (n=34) 95.7±1.6%, severe attack (n=36) 91.4±4.2%. No statistically significant difference was found between non-asthmatics and asthmatics without attack, however, every comparison between any other two groups was statistically significant.Conclusion: 1. Normal value of SpO2 was considered >96.7%. 2. SpO2 was less than nomal in approximately one half of asthmatics with mild attacks. 3. SpO2 decreased and more widely distributed with ascending severity of asthma attacks.