title: Validity of pulse oximetry during exercise in elite endurance athletes.
abstract: Eleven highly trained male cyclists [maximal aerobic power (VO2max) = 70.6 +/- 4.2 ml.kg-1.min-1] performed both high intensity constant load (90-95% VO2max) and incremental cycle exercise tests with arterial blood sampling to evaluate the accuracy of pulse oximeter estimates (%SpO2) of arterial oxyhemoglobin fraction of total hemoglobin (%HbO2). Three subjects also performed an incremental exercise test in hypoxic conditions (inspired partial pressure of O2 = 89, 93, or 100 Torr). Arterial %HbO2 was determined via CO-oximetry and ranged from 72 to 99%. Three Ohmeda 3740 pulse oximeters were used to estimate %HbO2, one on each ear lobe and a finger probe. The finger probe tended to provide the best estimate of %HbO2 during exercise: the mean %SpO2 - %HbO2 difference for 232 exercise observations was 0.52 +/- 1.36% (SD). Finger probe %SpO2 and %HbO2 were highly correlated [r = 0.98, standard error of the estimate (SEE) = 1.32%, P less than 0.0001]. The accuracy of pulse oximeters has been questioned during high-intensity exercise. When aerobic power was greater than 81% of VO2max (n = 75), the finger probe's mean error was -0.01 +/- 1.40%. Finger probe %SpO2 and %HbO2 were highly correlated (r = 0.97, SEE = 1.32%, P less than 0.0001). These results indicate that this pulse oximeter is a valid predictor of %HbO2 in elite athletes during cycle exercise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610-0154.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Powers
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cicale
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Collop
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Criswell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004431:Ear, External; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005385:Fingers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010092:Oximetry / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010108:Oxyhemoglobins