Altitude Above Sea Level and Body Mass Index as Determinants of Oxygen Saturation in Children: The SON@ Study

• Autores: Laura Graciela Gochicoa Rangel, José Rogelio Pérez Padilla, Luis Rodríguez Moreno, Arturo Montero Matamoros, Nancy G. Ojeda Luna, Gema Martínez Carbajal, Roberto Hernández Raygoza, María Dolores Ruiz Pedraza, María del Rosario Fernández Plata, Luis Torre Bouscoulet
• Localización: Revista de investigación clínica, ISSN 0034-8376, ISSN-e 2564-8896, Vol. 67, Nº. 6, 2015, págs. 366-371
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo (pdf)
• Resumen

  • Background: Altitude above sea level and body mass index are well-recognized determinants of oxygen saturation in adult populations; however, the contribution of these factors to oxygen saturation in children is less clear. Objective: To explore the contribution of altitude above sea level and body mass index to oxygen saturation in children. Methods: A multi-center, cross-sectional study conducted in nine cities in Mexico. Parents signed informed consent forms and completed a health status questionnaire. Height, weight, and pulse oximetry were recorded. Results: We studied 2,200 subjects (52% girls) aged 8.7 ± 3.0 years. Mean body mass index, z-body mass index, and oxygen saturation were 18.1 ± 3.6 kg·m-2, 0.58 ± 1.3, and 95.5 ± 2.4%, respectively. By multiple regression analysis, altitude proved to be the main predictor of oxygen saturation, with non-significant contributions of age, gender, and body mass index. According to quantile regression, the median estimate of oxygen saturation was 98.7 minus 1.7% per km of altitude above sea level, and the oxygen saturation fifth percentile 97.4 minus 2.7% per km of altitude. Conclusions: Altitude was the main determinant of oxygen saturation, which on average decreased 1.7% per km of elevation from a percentage of 98.7 at sea level. In contrast with adults, this study in children found no association between oxygen saturation and obesity or age. (REV INVES CLIN. 2015;67:366-71)