ABSTRACT

Aim: To determine frequency of undiagnosed hypoxia in pts which was medically sick admitted in chest wards.

Study design: Cross-sectional.

Place and duration of study: Department of Medicine, Social Security Hospital, Multan Road Lahore from 1st January 2020 to 30th June 2020.

Methodology: Two hundred and ninety patients were included in this study. Patients detailed demographics age, sex, and body mass index were recorded after taking written consent and admitted in chest wards. Presented patients were aged between 20-70 years. Pulse oximeter was used to measure the oxygen saturation levels. Mean time of hospitalization was also measured.

Results: There were 170(60%) males and 120(40%) females with mean age of the patients were 40.78±18.64 years. Mean BMI was 27.78±12.64 kg/m2. Majority of the patients 160(55.17%) were from the age group 35-70 years. Calculated oxygen saturation rate was 91.98±9.42% in which minimum rate was 80% and the maximum rate was 105%. Mean heart rate was 92.96±19.20 per minute. Patients were admitted due to tuberculosis were 102(35.17%), patients with chronic pulmonary disease were 70 (24.17%), patients with pleural effusion were 30(10.34%) and the patients of asthma were 20(6.9%). In this study hypoxia was observed in 44 (15.17%) patients and was absent in 246 (84.83%) patients.

Conclusion: The frequency of hypoxia was most prevalent in male patients with increasing age as compared to females and in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, it was observed more commonly.

Keywords: Pulse oximeter, Oxygen saturation, Undiagnosed hypoxia