Year: 2026 | Month: March | Volume: 16 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 138-143
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260317
Oxygen Saturation Index: The Non-Invasive Surrogate of the Oxygenation Index for Continuous Monitoring of Hypoxemia in Ventilated Neonates
S. Mohanapriya1, P. Sakthi Seethalakshmi2, P. Deepika3, R. Nivetha4, K.S. Kumaravel5
1Department of Pediatrics, Govt Karur Medical College, Karur, Tamil Nadu, India
2,3,4,5Department of Pediatrics, Govt Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India.
Corresponding Author: Dr. K.S. Kumaravel
ABSTRACT
Background: The Oxygenation Index (OI) is widely used to assess lung injury and hypoxic respiratory failure (HRF). The Oxygen Saturation Index (OSI) has recently been proposed as a non-invasive alternative to OI. This study aims to analyse the correlation between OI and OSI in ventilated neonates and to determine a cut-off value of OSI that correlates with an OI of 15 (mild HRF).
Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital for 1 year and included all ventilated neonates on the first day of life. A Pearson correlation analysis was performed to determine the relationship strength between OI and OSI. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed, and a cut-off value of OSI that will correlate with an OI of 15 (mild HRF) was determined.
Results: The mean birth weight of the neonates (n=100) was 1.9 ±0.7 kg. The most common indication for ventilation among neonates was respiratory distress syndrome (61%). The Pearson correlation showed a strong correlation between OI and OSI (r=0.601) among the study group. On ROC curve analysis, at a cut-off OSI value of 4.95, the area under the curve was 0.837, sensitivity was 78.9%, and specificity was 75% (P <0.001).
Conclusion: The study demonstrates a strong correlation between OSI and OI. Its high sensitivity and specificity, combined with its non-invasive nature, make OSI a valuable tool for continuous monitoring of HRF, bridging the gaps between intermittent OI assessments.
Key words: Neonate, oxygen, distress, monitoring, preterm.