The following is a summary of “Hyperoxemia Induced by Oxygen Therapy in Nonsurgical Critically Ill Patients,” published in the March 2024 issue of Critical Care by Silva et al.

Hyperoxemia, a frequently neglected condition in patients who are critically ill, is prevalent and can lead to harmful outcomes.

Researchers started a retrospective study evaluating the possibility of oxygen therapy-induced hyperoxemia on hospital death rates and investigating its frequency in non-surgical ICU admissions.

They involved non-surgical controls aged 18 years or older who were admitted to the adult ICU at Hospital Santa Luzia Rede D’Or São Luiz and received oxygen therapy (July 2018 to June 2021). Patients were classified into three groups based on the Pa_O2 levels at ICU admission, hypoxemia (Pa_O2 < 60 mm Hg), normoxemia (Pa_O2 = 60–120 mm Hg), and hyperoxemia (Pa_O2 > 120 mm Hg).

The result showed 1,174 (38.0%) had hyperoxemia, which was related to increased hospital mortality (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.04–1.67; P=.02). Both age (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.02–1.02; P<.001) and chronic kidney disease (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.02–2.36; P=.04) were associated with a higher incidence of hyperoxemia. Factors leading to a lower incidence of hyperoxemia included a lower Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.83–0.93; P<.001); late-night admission (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67–0.96; P=.02); and primary reasons for hospital admission such as renal/metabolic conditions (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.13–1.39; P<.001), neurologic conditions (OR, 0.02; 95% CI, 0.01–0.05; P<.001), digestive issues (OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.13–0.41; P<.001), and soft tissue/skin/orthopedic conditions (OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.13–0.79; P=.01).

Investigators concluded that hyperoxemia, caused by oxygen therapy, was common in patients with critical illness and associated with a higher risk of death during hospitalization, highlighting the importance of healthcare professionals being aware of hyperoxemia’s potential dangers and associated costs.

Source: aacnjournals.org/ajcconline/article-abstract/33/2/82/32325/Hyperoxemia-Induced-by-Oxygen-Therapy-in