Key findings
• This study investigated the U-shaped nonlinear relationship between admission oxygen saturation (SpO2) and all-cause hospital mortality in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The results showed that the lowest all-cause hospital mortality was observed at an SpO2 of 89.5%. Additionally, SpO2 was identified as an independent risk factor for predicting all-cause hospital mortality in AECOPD patients, providing valuable guidance for optimizing oxygen therapy in this population.
What is known and what is new?
• Most studies indicate that maintaining SpO2 levels between 88–92% provides significant benefits for AECOPD patients. However, there is limited research on the relationship between SpO2 and all-cause hospital mortality in AECOPD patients.
• This study investigated the nonlinear U-shaped relationship between SpO2 and all-cause hospital mortality in AECOPD patients. It offers a readily available indicator for assessing the severity of AECOPD and provides evidence to guide oxygen therapy in clinical practice.
What is the implication, and what should change now?
• More prospective studies are urgently needed to explore the relationship between SpO2 and all-cause hospital mortality in AECOPD patients, providing further evidence to improve the prognosis of these patients.
