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Exploring Pulse OXimeter Accuracy Across SKin Tones

A Study Within a Trial to Determine the Effect of Skin Tone on the Diagnostic Accuracy of Pulse Oximeters

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05481515
Acronym
EXAKT
Enrollment
903
Registered
2022-08-01
Start date
2022-06-24
Completion date
2024-10-31
Last updated
2025-03-12

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Critical Illness, Hypoxemia

Brief summary

This study within a trial (SWAT) will be a sub-study of the UK-ROX trial (ISRCTN13384956), which is currently running in intensive care units across the UK. UK-ROX is large-scale randomised controlled trial evaluating conservative oxygen therapy (a target SpO2 of 88-92%) versus usual oxygen therapy in mechanically ventilated adult patients admitted to ICUs in the UK. The purpose of this observational sub-study is to compare pulse oximeter-derived peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) values to co-oximeter-derived arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) measurements from arterial blood gas (ABG) samples, for a range of fingertip pulse oximeters in an ethnically diverse group of adult patients admitted to UK intensive care units (ICUs). Approximately 900 patients will be recruited over 12 month period from 24 sites to provide an anticipated 10,800 paired SpO2 and SaO2 measurements. Patient skin tone will be objectively measured using a handheld spectrophotometer. Data from the sub-study will be used to determine the accuracy of the tested pulse oximeters across a range of skin tones and arterial oxygenation levels.

Detailed description

Research question: What is the diagnostic accuracy of different pulse oximeters at peripheral oxygen saturation levels (SpO2) relevant to their use by patients at home and how does this vary in people with darker skin pigmentation? Primary objective: To compare pulse oximeter-derived SpO2 values to co-oximeter-derived arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) measurements from arterial blood gas (ABG) samples, for a range of fingertip pulse oximeters in an ethnically diverse group of adult patients with a broad spectrum of skin tones admitted to UK intensive care units (ICUs). Design: This study within a trial (SWAT) that will form an observational sub-study of the NIHR HTA funded UK-ROX trial (https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR130508), which is currently running in ICUs across the UK. Twenty four ICUs enrolling patients into the UK-ROX trial trial will be randomly allocated two brands of pulse oximeter to evaluate. Over a period of 24 hours for each participant, SpO2 values from the test pulse oximeters will be compared to simultaneous SaO2 values from ABG samples analysed on a standard ICU ABG co-oximeter machine. Patient skin tone will be objectively measured using a handheld spectrophotometer. The difference between SpO2 and SaO2 will be compared across skin tones and across a range of arterial oxygenation levels. Setting: The UK-ROX trial is large-scale, multi-centre, data-enabled, registry embedded randomised controlled trial (RCT) evaluating conservative oxygen therapy (a target SpO2 of 88-92%) versus usual oxygen therapy in mechanically ventilated adult patients admitted to ICUs in the United Kingdom. Target population: 900 mechanically ventilated adults screened for enrolment into the UK-ROX trial. Primary outcome: The accuracy of SpO2 measurement in the evaluated pulse oximeters, validated against co-oximeter-derived SaO2 ABG sample analysis.

Interventions

DEVICEPulse oximetry

Pulse oximeters will be evaluated against routine arterial blood gas measurements

Spectrophotometry will be used to measure skin tone

Sponsors

Lewisham Council
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
Centre Ethnic Health Research
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

are for those of the main UK-ROX trial: * Adult (aged ≥18 years) * Receiving invasive mechanical ventilation in the ICU following an unplanned ICU admission OR invasive mechanical ventilation started in the ICU (i.e. the patient was intubated in the ICU). * Receiving supplemental oxygen (\> 21% oxygen) at the time of enrolment

Exclusion criteria

are for those of the main UK-ROX trial: • The clinician considers that one study treatment arm is either indicated or contraindicated. In order in increase the number of patients eligible for this observational diagnostic accuracy study, we will have also received ethical approval to enrol mechanically ventilated adult patients who have been screened for, but not enrolled into, the UK-ROX trial. These may include patients who missed the 12 hour recruitment window for the main trial and patients in whom the clinical team decided that one study treatment arm is either indicated or contraindicated.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Accuracy of SpO2 measurementsOver 24 hour observation windowAccuracy of SpO2 measurement, validated against co-oximeter derived SaO2 arterial blood gas analysis (calculated as SpO2 minus paired SaO2)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Detection of hypoxaemiaOver 24 hour observation windowDiagnostic accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and sensitivity and specificity at relevant cut-points) for SpO2 as a predictor of SaO2 ≤ 92%.
Detection of occult hypoxaemiaOver 24 hour observation windowThe presence of an SaO2 \< 88% among participants with a paired SpO2 reading of \>92%

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026