The effectiveness of home monitoring using pulse oximetry in people with COVID-19 symptoms to guide future management
Is measuring blood oxygen levels in the home helpful in guiding treatment for people with COVID-19 symptoms?
Some patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are treated at home to limit the spread of the virus and to reserve hospital care for those who most need it. One way of monitoring patients at home is to use a device called an oximeter. The oximeter is simple to use. It clips onto the fingertip and measures oxygen levels in the blood. These measurements can then be used by the doctor to help decide on any further treatment and on whether the patient needs to go into hospital.
This review looks at information published on the use of oximeters to see if there was evidence of them being useful when caring for COVID-19 patients at home.
Key Findings
- One guideline published in March 2021 on the treatment of COVID-19 patients suggested that there are different types of oximeters which can produce variable results.
- The most recent review noted that results need to be interpreted cautiously by doctors. It also suggested that more research is needed to understand the safety measures needed and what needs to be done when looking after patients with COVID at home.
- There is a lack of evidence on how effective smartphone applications are when used as oximeters.
Since March 2021 there have been limited studies published with a mix of outcomes. An ongoing review is still being carried out which is due to complete in August 2021.
At present there are still questions about the safety and cost of home monitoring using oximeters.
It is not clear whether the changes in patient care would justify the cost of buying the equipment and monitoring the results.
The Wales COVID-19 Evidence Centre has decided that there will not be enough new research at present to undertake a further review in the near future.
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