Work

Racial Variation in Cerebral Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Accuracy among Infants in a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Objective: Pulse oximeters overestimate arterial oxygen saturations in Black versus White adults, children, and infants. While race's impact on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) accuracy is less studied, some adult research suggests decreased accuracy in Black patients. This study investigates the effect of race on NIRS accuracy in infants in a cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). Study Design: A retrospective chart review was conducted for infants admitted to St. Louis Children's Hospital CICU from 2017 to 2023. Bland-Altman plots, Pearson correlations, and mean biases were analyzed. Results: < 0.01). Conclusion: in Black infants but maintains negligible measurement bias in White infants. This is the first study to assess race and NIRS accuracy in infants; the difference is statistically significant but not clinically relevant in most contexts. Key Points: · Light-based measures of oxygen saturation risk interference from melanin.. · Bias of cerebral NIRS is low (-0.6%) against central venous oxygenation.. · Cerebral NIRS error is disproportionate by race, with an underestimate of 3.2% in Black infants..

Source: American Journal of Perinatology

DOI: 10.1055/a-2714-3293

Authors: Callie Marshall, Stephanie Diggs, Morgan Pfeiffer, Anna Gerst, Alexa Brumfiel, Zachary Vesoulis

Institution: Washington University in St. Louis

Language: English

Topic: Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy Techniques

Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W4414792131