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Covid-19 makes the patient’s condition deteriorate slowly, due to a decrease in oxygen levels in the blood.
Well, oxygen saturation in the blood (SpO2) can be detected easily through a tool called an Oxymeter or Pulse Oxymeter.
For the record, the normal level of SpO2 is 95%-100%. On the other hand, if the Pulse Oximeter shows an SPO2 below 95%, then there is a reduced level of blood oxygen saturation. So, you may need oxygen therapy.
Without a Pulse Oxymeter, the patient will not be able to know that the oxygen in his body is very low.
Later, a chain message circulated in WhatsApp groups that said that oxygen saturation could be measured only using an application and a cellphone camera. This is roughly the message that was distributed along with a link to download a specific application:
Those who don’t have an oximeter…there is a solution…
Use our HP and Camera HP to measure
– Oxygen Saturation
– Respiration Rate
– Blood Pressure
– All vital Signs
You don’t have to stick the camera on your finger, it’s good on the wrist like a watch.
But, is it true that oxygen saturation can be measured only using flashlight lighting from the phone’s rear camera and applications?
Dr. Lila Tri Harjana, Sp.An said this was not accurate. “Sensors to determine the concentration of oxygen in the hemoglobin that flows with the bloodstream must be infrared. Not the usual light that is captured by ordinary camera receptors,” he said.
Doctors say that the best way to monitor a Covid-19 patient is to use a device called a pulse oximeter.
Walter Schrading, University of Alabama medical director at the Birmingham School of Medicine said that relying on apps to measure oxygen saturation – especially those with Covid-19 can be dangerous.
Because the application can misread and cannot accurately identify low oxygen levels. “This is dangerous if the oxygen level in your body is low, and such applications do not provide accurate information,” he said.
Schrading conducted research on three pulse oximetry applications on the iPhone and published it in 2019. His findings suggest that the three applications cannot accurately measure patients who have low oxygen saturation in their bodies.
Then, what about smartwatches or smartbands that also offer similar features? Companies like Garmin, Fitbit, and even Xiaomi have made it clear that their devices are not medical devices. That is, it is not intended for medical needs.
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Its use is only as an early detection tool. If indeed the user’s oxygen level measurement is below normal, then you should check with a hospital or doctor.
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