Does baseline oxygen saturation predict exercise desaturation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

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Previously, Knower et al. suggested that baseline oxygen saturation (SpO2) of 95% or less is a good screening test for oxygen desaturation during a 6MWT (sensitivity: 73%; negative predictive value: 84%), especially in COPD patients with a DLCO greater than 36% of the predicted value (sensitivity: 100%; negative predictive value: 100%).



To date, this readily available office screening procedure has not been validated prospectively in a large cohort of patients with COPD.



Objectives:

1. To validate the cut off of resting SpO2 of 95% or less as a simple screening procedure to predict oxygen desaturation during a 6MWT in patients with COPD as proposed by Knower et al.;

2. To study the prevalence and characteristics of normoxemic patients with COPD who have a SpO2 ≤88% during the 6MWT.

Before and directly after 6-minute walk test.

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