Research ArticleOriginal Article
Open Access

Normative pulse oximetry values in healthy children

A cross-sectional study from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Turki S. Alahmadi, Mohammed A. Alsubaie, Abdullah Z. Alsuheili, Anas S. Alyazidi, Israa A. Habis, Taif K. Alotibi, Areen Y. Ibrahim, Saddiq B. Habiballah and Matter A. Alsulami
Saudi Medical Journal April 2025, 46 (4) 358-363; DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2025.46.4.20241051

Article Figures & Data

Figures

  • Figure 1
    Figure 1

    - Scatter plot illustrating the relationship between age (years) and oxygen saturation (%) in a pediatric population. Each dot represents an individual data point. The x-axis represents age in years, ranging from infancy to 18 years, while the Y-axis represents oxygen saturation (%) measured via pulse oximetry. Oxygen saturation values predominantly cluster at 100%, with some variation observed between 97% and 99%. A correlation analysis showed no significant association between age and oxygen saturation (r=0.036, p=0.259)

  • Figure 2
    Figure 2

    - Distribution of oxygen saturation values in healthy children (n=973).Bar chart illustrating the frequency distribution of oxygen saturation values (%) among the study population.The X-axis represents oxygen saturation levels (%) measured by pulse oximetry, while the Y-axis represents the frequency of occurrences for each saturation level. The majority of subjects have an oxygen saturation of 100%, followed by 99% and 98%, with a smaller proportion at 97%.

Tables

  • Table 1

    - Participants’ characteristics (N=973).

    CharacteristicsFrequency (%)
    Gender
    Male537 (55.2)
    Female436 (44.8)
    Ethnicity
    Arab959 (98.6)
    Pakistani8 (0.8)
    Black3 (0.3)
    Indian2 (0.2)
    Asian1 (0.1)
    Age, Mean ± Standard deviation6.99 ± 4.49
    Infancy (< 1 year)91 (9.4)
    Toddler (1-3 years)230 (23.6)
    Pre-school (4-6 years)162 (16.6)
    School age (7-12 years)365 (37.6)
    Adolescent (13-18 years)125 (12.8)
  • Table 2

    - Mean and median heart rates across age groups.

    Age groupsnMean (95% Confidence Interval)Median (IQR)
    <1 year91136.28 (132.32-140.23)140 (130-150)
    1-3 years230110.86 (108.41-113.32)110 (96-125)
    4-6 years16299.49 (97.42-101.55)98 (89-110)
    7-12 years36595.93 (94.45-97.40)94 (87-103)
    13-18 years12593.24 (90.39-96.09)92 (83-102)
    Total973103.49 (102.21-104.76)99 (89-115)

    A statistically significant difference was observed between the age groups, with the mean heart rate decreasing as age increased (p<0.001). n: number, IQR: interquartile range

    • Table 3

      - Mean and median oxygen saturation values across age groups.

      Age groupsnMean (95% CI)SDMedian (IQR)
      < 1 year9199.16 (98.94-99.39)1.01100 (99-100)
      1-3 years23099.09 (98.97-99.22)0.9699 (98-100)
      4-6 years16299.13 (99-99.27)0.8999 (98-100)
      7-12 years36599.21 (99.12-99.31)0.9099 (99-100)
      13-18 years12599.21 (99.03-99.38)0.98100 (98-100)
      Total97399.17 (99.11-99.23)0.9499 (99-100)

      The analysis revealed no statistically significant variations in oxygen. saturation values among the various age groups (p=0.622). n: number SD: standard deviation, IQR: interquartile range

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