Racial bias and reproducibility in pulse oximetry among medical and surgical inpatients in general care in the Veterans Health Administration 2013-19: multicenter, retrospective cohort study

In general care inpatient settings across the Veterans Health Administration where paired readings of arterial blood gas (SaO2) and pulse oximetry (SpO2) were obtained, black patients had higher odds than white patients of having occult hypoxemia noted on arterial blood gas but not detected by pulse oximetry. This difference could limit access to supplemental oxygen and other more intensive support and treatments for black patients.