ANN ARBOR, MI (UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HEALTH) - In recent years, University of Michigan researchers uncovered that pulse oximeters – the devices placed on the finger and used to detect blood oxygen levels – may not provide accurate readings for Black patients.
Now a study has found that pulse oximeters incorrectly read key measurements for Black patients with heart failure – underestimating how much blood is pumping out of a patient's heart and overestimating the resistance of the blood vessels. Heart failure experts say the issue can have life-changing consequences for patients.
"So, these inaccuracies could result in the use of medications that could be potentially harmful in Black patients with heart failure or could preclude these patients from getting advanced treatment options like heart transplants and heart pumps and might be one explanation for why we already know black patients are less likely to receive these advanced treatment option," stated Dr. Scott Ketcham, cardiovascular medicine at the University of Michigan Health.
The university's research caught the attention of the FDA, which has met to discuss approaches to improve methods used to evaluate the performance of pulse oximeters.
"The use of pulse oximeters is ubiquitous in healthcare from the outpatient setting to patients admitted in the hospital. And it not only impacts patients with heart failure, but patients with other disease states such as lung disease. And it's really important that we get these numbers, right, because it can lead to life altering therapies," said Dr. Sarah Adie, pharmacy specialist in cardiology at the University of Michigan Health.
In the meantime, the experts say providers should use more reliable methods of measuring blood oxygen levels for black patients with heart failure, such as taking a blood sample.
