Pulse oximeters miss hypoxemia more often in people with darker skin, study finds
Government
By Dr. Liji Thomas, MD Reviewed by Lauren Hardaker Jan 18 2026 A major UK study shows that commonly used home pulse oximeters can overestimate oxygen levels in people with darker skin, increasing the risk of undetected hypoxemia and raising urgent questions about device standards, regulation, and clinical interpretation. Study: The impact of skin tone on performance of pulse oximeters used by NHS England COVID Oximetry @home scheme: measurement and diagnostic accuracy study . Image Credit:
din zilele anterioare