A synthetic control evaluation of the use of pulse oximeters in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in England.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To measure the impact of the use of pulse oximeters in early detection of oxygen saturation deterioration for patients testing positive with COVID-19 in preventing emergency hospital utilisation and death. This intervention was rolled out across England (part of the United Kingdom) as the COVID Oximetry @home programme.

Design

Causal inference study informed by linked national administrative and surveillance data-sets to detect the difference in impact of the COVID Oximetry @home programme by comparing areas of the country with high uptake of the programme with areas with low uptake of the programme using generalised synthetic controls.

Setting

This intervention was rolled out across all Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in England, administrative geogra

SUBMITTER: Conti S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12680260 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature