Experts warn oximeters do not work as well with ethnic minorities

July 31, 2021 Ava

Health bodies have warned that oximeters that are used to detect early signs of dangerous falls in oxygen in Covid patients do not work as well for ethnic minorities.

NHS England and the medical regulator the MHRA said the non-invasive devices can overestimate the amount of oxygen in people with darker skin tones.

A higher proportion of black, Asian and minority ethnic people have died because of the virus throughout the pandemic.

Director of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, Dr Habib Naqvi, told Radio 4’s Today Programme concerns about the device’s reliability have been mounting.

He said: ‘We have growing evidence highlighting inconsistencies in pulse oximeter readings amongst those with darker skin tones.

‘It cannot and should not be ignored, particularly during the current Covid pandemic that is significantly having a disproportionate impact upon black and ethnic minority people.’

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BAME Covid-19 patients in London are 11 years YOUNGER than white people with the disease, study finds

Black, Asian and ethnic minority Covid patients in London are 11 years younger on average than their white counterparts, a study has found.

Researchers at King’s College London found that BAME patients were aged 63, on average, compared to 74 for white patients.

The finding is the latest in a string of research showing that BAME people are being killed by the coronavirus at a faster rate than white people.

Scientists think this is because ethnic minority people in Britain have considerably higher rates of health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

A younger average age shows that these factors – and potentially others – are putting black and Asian people at higher risk of becoming severely ill and dying young.

The older average found among white people suggests age remains their greatest risk.

The research found, however, that ethnicity did not seem to affect the likelihood of death when other factors were taken into account: a black person and a white person of the same age and health status would have equal odds of survival.

It follows warnings the devices could be giving ‘seriously misleading’ results for black and minority ethnic people, possibly contributing to more deaths from Covid.

In April, the NHS Race and Health Observatory published a review into the accuracy of pulse oximeters, following a research paper which cited a ‘growing body of evidence’ that they are less accurate in darker skinned patients.

Updated guidance from NHS England and NHS Improvement advises that patients should take readings when they are first given the oximeter and regularly afterwards, noting changes over time rather than from just one reading.

They are also advised to speak to a health or care professional before using the device to raise any concerns.

The guidance states: ‘By looking at changes in readings rather than just one reading, it means that even if an oximeter is not completely accurate, it is still possible to see if oxygen levels are going down.’

The update was welcomed by Ranjit Senghera-Marwaha and her husband, Harjeet Marwaha, from Birmingham.

Both contracted coronavirus last year, and Mr Marwaha called for an ambulance on Boxing Day and recalled being told by paramedics his wife’s oxygen levels were borderline.

She was admitted to hospital the following day after they fell even further.

He said: ‘These oximeters are simple machines that can really help but people need to know how to use them properly and take into account that the readings may not be 100 percent accurate due to skin tone.

‘The risk is that people are sat at home relying on the display and not being aware their oxygen levels could actually be slightly lower than shown. It’s important the community is made aware of these risks.’

Director of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, Dr Habib Naqvi, said: ‘We need to ensure there is common knowledge on potential limitations in healthcare equipment and devices, particularly for populations at heightened risk of life-changing illness, this includes black, Asian diverse communities using pulse oximeters to monitor their oxygen levels at home.’

Pulse oximeters attach a clip-like device to a person’s finger, toe or earlobe and send a beam of light to measure oxygen levels in the blood.

The resulting reading can be used to monitor oxygen levels of people with a variety of conditions, including by people at home with coronavirus, and to assess patients in hospital.

SAGE STUDY CLAIMS ILLNESS AND DEPRIVATION ACCOUNT FOR HIGHER DEATH RATE AMONG BAME BRITONS

Black, Asian and minority ethnic people are no more likely to die from coronavirus than white people, a study given to government scientists has found.

Research presented to Number 10’s SAGE panel found there was no greater risk of death for Brits of BAME backgrounds when all factors were taken into account.

It showed that ‘comorbidities’ – long-term health problems – appeared to account for higher rates of hospitalisation and intensive care among ethnic minority people.

Risk among BAME communities has been a sensitive topic during Britain’s outbreak and even given rise to calls for extra protection for non-white NHS staff.

Statistics show BAME people in Britain are dying of COVID-19 at disproportionate rates, but scientists have struggled to explain why.

The research – done by scientists from the universities of Edinburgh and Liverpool – was one of around a dozen secret papers published last night by the government.

It did, however, claim BAME people did seem to be more likely to end up in intensive care in the first place.

The SAGE paper was met with scepticism, however, with one intensive care doctor saying the data it contained did not line up with what the scientists claimed.

Oxford University’s Professor Duncan Young said: ‘I’m not sure why they thought black patients were more at risk of ICU care.

‘The take-home message is that BAME patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are no more likely to end up in ICU nor are they more likely to die.’

Source: Thanks msn.com