What you need to know

• It is a longstanding cultural norm to provide supplemental oxygen to sick patients regardless of their blood oxygen saturation
• A recent systematic review and meta-analysis has shown that too much supplemental oxygen increases mortality for medical patients in the hospital
• For patients receiving oxygen therapy, aim for peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO₂) of ≤ 96% (strong recommendation)
• For patients with acute myocardial infarction or stroke, do not initiate oxygen therapy in patients with SpO₂ ≥ 90% (for ≥ 93% strong recommendation, for 90-92% weak recommendation)
• A target SpO₂ range of 90-94% seems reasonable for most patients and 88-92% for patients at risk of hypercapnic respiratory failure; use the minimum amount of oxygen necessary