The effect of high altitude commercial air travel on oxygen saturation

Anaesthesia. 2005 May;60(5):458-60. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2005.04124.x.

Abstract

Air travel has increased steadily over the last decade, and its effect on the health of passengers has been the subject of much debate. There is a paucity of evidence on the effects of air travel on oxygen saturation in general populations. The peripheral oxygen saturation and pulse rate of 84 passengers, aged 1-78 years, were measured by pulse oximetry at round level and altitude during air travel. There was a statistically significant reduction in oxygen saturation in all passengers travelling long haul and short haul flights (p < 0.05). The mean [range] (SD) SpO(2) for all flights at ground level was 97% [93-100] (1.33) and at cruising altitude 93% [85-98] (2.33). Fifty-four per cent of passengers had SpO(2) values of 94% or less at cruising altitude. This is a value which may prompt physicians to administer supplemental oxygen in hospital patients.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aerospace Medicine*
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Altitude*
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia / etiology*
  • Infant
  • Middle Aged
  • Oximetry
  • Oxygen / blood
  • Partial Pressure
  • Travel*

Substances

  • Oxygen