Association Between Oxygen Saturation Targeting and Death or Disability in Extremely Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Oxygenation Prospective Meta-analysis Collaboration

Lisa M Askie; Brian A Darlow; Neil Finer; Barbara Schmidt; Ben Stenson; William Tarnow-Mordi; Peter G Davis; Waldemar A Carlo; Peter Brocklehurst; Lucy C Davies; Abhik Das; Wade Rich; Marie G Gantz; Robin S Roberts; Robin K Whyte; Lorrie Costantini; Christian Poets; Elizabeth Asztalos; Malcolm Battin; Henry L Halliday; Neil Marlow; Win Tin; Andrew King; Edmund Juszczak; Colin J Morley; Lex W Doyle; Val Gebski; Kylie E Hunter; Robert J Simes

doi:10.1001/jama.2018.5725

. 2018 Jun 5;319(21):2190–2201. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.5725

Association Between Oxygen Saturation Targeting and Death or Disability in Extremely Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Oxygenation Prospective Meta-analysis Collaboration

Lisa M Askie ^1,^✉, Brian A Darlow ², Neil Finer ³, Barbara Schmidt ^4,⁵, Ben Stenson ⁶, William Tarnow-Mordi ¹, Peter G Davis ^7,⁸, Waldemar A Carlo ⁹, Peter Brocklehurst ^10,¹¹, Lucy C Davies ¹, Abhik Das ¹², Wade Rich ³, Marie G Gantz ¹³, Robin S Roberts ⁵, Robin K Whyte ¹⁴, Lorrie Costantini ⁵, Christian Poets ¹⁵, Elizabeth Asztalos ¹⁶, Malcolm Battin ¹⁷, Henry L Halliday ^18,¹⁹, Neil Marlow ²⁰, Win Tin ²¹, Andrew King ¹¹, Edmund Juszczak ¹¹, Colin J Morley ²², Lex W Doyle ^7,⁸, Val Gebski ¹, Kylie E Hunter ¹, Robert J Simes ¹, for the Neonatal Oxygenation Prospective Meta-analysis (NeOProM) Collaboration

¹National Health and Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

²Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand

³Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego

⁴Division of Neonatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

⁵Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

⁶Department of Neonatology, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland

⁷Newborn Research, Royal Women’s Hospital, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

⁸Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia

⁹Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama, Birmingham

¹⁰Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England

¹¹National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, England

¹²Statistics and Epidemiology Unit, RTI International, Rockville, Maryland

¹³Statistics and Epidemiology Unit, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

¹⁴Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

¹⁵Department of Neonatology, Tuebingen University Hospital, Tuebingen, Germany

¹⁶Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

¹⁷Newborn Services, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand

¹⁸Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast, Ireland

¹⁹Department of Child Health, Queen’s University, Belfast, Ireland

²⁰EGA Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, England

²¹Department of Neonatal Medicine, James Cook University, Middlesbrough, England

²²University of Cambridge, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cambridge, England

Group Information: Information about the members of the Neonatal Oxygenation Prospective Meta-analysis (NeOProM) Collaboration appears at the end of the article.

^✉

Corresponding Author: Lisa M. Askie, PhD, National Health and Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Medical Foundation Building, Level 6, 92-94 Parramatta Rd, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia (lisa.askie@ctc.usyd.edu.au).

Accepted for Publication: April 30, 2018.

Correction: This article was corrected on July 17, 2018, to fix data errors in Figure 3 for the row “z score for infant body weight at postmenstrual age of 36 wk” and the transposition of the male and female labels in Figure 4.

Author Contributions: Dr Askie and Ms Davies had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Concept and design: All authors.

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: All authors.

Drafting of the manuscript: Askie, Darlow, Schmidt, Stenson, Davis, Carlo, Davies, Simes.

Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: All authors.

Statistical analysis: Askie, Davies, Gebski.

Obtained funding: Askie, Darlow, Schmidt, Tarnow-Mordi, Carlo, Brocklehurst, Gebski, Simes.

Administrative, technical, or material support: All authors.

Supervision: Askie, Gebski, Simes.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: The authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Dr Askie reported receiving honoraria from the Nemours Foundation (Hot Topics in Neonatology). Dr Schmidt reported receiving honoraria from several US academic institutions, the Nemours Foundation (Hot Topics in Neonatology), and the Vermont Oxford Network for lectures on the topic of oxygen saturation targeting in extremely preterm infants. Dr Tarnow-Mordi reported receiving honoraria from the Nemours Foundation (Hot Topics in Neonatology) and the Vermont Oxford Network for speaking on topics related to the care of premature infants. Dr Davis reported receiving a fellowship from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. Dr Brocklehurst reported receiving personal fees from the UK Medical Research Council. Mr Rich reported receiving personal fees from Windtree Therapeutics Inc. Dr Poets reported receiving honoraria from Chiesi Farmaceutici. Dr Halliday reported being an advisor to Chiesi Farmaceutici and the joint editor-in-chief of Neonatology. Dr Marlow reported serving as a consultant to Shire. No other disclosures were reported.

Funding/Support: The data analysis was supported by grant R03HD 079867 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. Support for staff of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Clinical Trials Centre (University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia) was partly funded by NHMRC program grant 1037786. Dr Marlow receives funding from the UK Department of Health’s National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre’s funding scheme at University College London Hospital and the University College London. The SUPPORT trial was supported by grants from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and from the National Institutes of Health (U10 HD21364, U10 HD21373, U10 HD21385, U10 HD21397, U10 HD27851, U10 HD27853, U10 HD27856, U10 HD27880, U10 HD27871, U10 HD27904, U10 HD34216, U10 HD36790, U10 HD40461, U10 HD40492, U10 HD40498, U10 HD40521, U10 HD40689, U10 HD53089, U10 HD53109, U10 HD53119, and U10 HD53124); and by grants from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, cofunding from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and grants from the National Institutes of Health (M01 RR30, M01 RR32, M01 RR39, M01 RR44, M01 RR54, M01 RR59, M01 RR64, M01 RR70, M01 RR80, MO1 RR125, M01 RR633, M01 RR750, M01 RR997, M01 RR6022, M01 RR7122, M01 RR8084, M01 RR16587, UL1 RR25008, UL1 RR24139, UL1 RR24979, and UL1 RR25744). The Canadian Oxygen Trial was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MCT-79217). The BOOST New Zealand trial was funded by th New Zealand Health Research Council (05/145) and the Child Health Research Foundation. The BOOST II UK trial was funded by the UK Medical Research Council and managed by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) on behalf of the MRC-NIHR partnership. The BOOST II Australia trial was supported by Australian NHMRC project grant 352386.

Role of the Funder/Sponsor: None of the listed funders or the Masimo Corporation had a role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Group Information: All authors are members of the Neonatal Oxygenation Prospective Meta-analysis (NeOProM) Collaboration.

Additional Contributions: We thank the many people who have contributed to this project (none of whom received financial compensation for their role in the study) including: William Silverman, MD (Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY), Jack Sinclair, MD (McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada), Edmund Hey, MD, DPhil (Princess Mary Maternity Hospital, Newcastle, England), and David Henderson-Smart, PhD (University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia), who are deceased. We also thank Cynthia Cole, MD, MPH (Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts), who was instrumental in forming the initial collaboration; Dale Phelps, MD (University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York), for advice regarding the oximeter masking; and Marion Fournier, MSc, Adrienne Kirby, MSc, Mark Donoghoe, PhD, Luke Buizen BSc(Hons), Rebecca Asher, MSc, and Anna Lene Seidler MSc (all employees of the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Australia), for statistical advice and preparation of the manuscript figures and tables. We also acknowledge and thank the dedicated staff who worked on the included trials and the families of the enrolled infants for giving of their time.

^✉

Corresponding author.

PMCID: PMC6583054 PMID: 29872859

Key Points

Question

For extremely preterm infants, is targeting a lower oxygen saturation (85%-89%) compared with a higher saturation (91%-95%) associated with a difference in death or major disability by a corrected age of 24 months?

Findings

In a prospectively designed meta-analysis of individual participant data from 4965 infants in 5 randomized clinical trials, there was no significant difference in the primary composite outcome of death or major disability between those treated with lower vs higher oxygen saturations (53.5% vs 51.6%, respectively). Lower oxygen targets were associated with increased death and necrotizing enterocolitis but reduced retinopathy of prematurity treatment.

Meaning

Among extremely preterm infants, there was no significant difference between lower and higher oxygen saturation targets on a composite of death or major disability; secondary end points may need to be considered in decision making.

Abstract

Importance

There are potential benefits and harms of hyperoxemia and hypoxemia for extremely preterm infants receiving more vs less supplemental oxygen.

Objective

To compare the effects of different target ranges for oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry (Spo₂) on death or major morbidity.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Prospectively planned meta-analysis of individual participant data from 5 randomized clinical trials (conducted from 2005-2014) enrolling infants born before 28 weeks’ gestation.

Exposures

Spo₂ target range that was lower (85%-89%) vs higher (91%-95%).

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was a composite of death or major disability (bilateral blindness, deafness, cerebral palsy diagnosed as ≥2 level on the Gross Motor Function Classification System, or Bayley-III cognitive or language score <85) at a corrected age of 18 to 24 months. There were 16 secondary outcomes including the components of the primary outcome and other major morbidities.

Results

A total of 4965 infants were randomized (2480 to the lower Spo₂ target range and 2485 to the higher Spo₂ range) and had a median gestational age of 26 weeks (interquartile range, 25-27 weeks) and a mean birth weight of 832 g (SD, 190 g). The primary outcome occurred in 1191 of 2228 infants (53.5%) in the lower Spo₂ target group and 1150 of 2229 infants (51.6%) in the higher Spo₂ target group (risk difference, 1.7% [95% CI, −1.3% to 4.6%]; relative risk [RR], 1.04 [95% CI, 0.98 to 1.09], P = .21). Of the 16 secondary outcomes, 11 were null, 2 significantly favored the lower Spo₂ target group, and 3 significantly favored the higher Spo₂ target group. Death occurred in 484 of 2433 infants (19.9%) in the lower Spo₂ target group and 418 of 2440 infants (17.1%) in the higher Spo₂ target group (risk difference, 2.8% [95% CI, 0.6% to 5.0%]; RR, 1.17 [95% CI, 1.04 to 1.31], P = .01). Treatment for retinopathy of prematurity was administered to 220 of 2020 infants (10.9%) in the lower Spo₂ target group and 308 of 2065 infants (14.9%) in the higher Spo₂ target group (risk difference, −4.0% [95% CI, −6.1% to −2.0%]; RR, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.63 to 0.86], P < .001). Severe necrotizing enterocolitis occurred in 227 of 2464 infants (9.2%) in the lower Spo₂ target group and 170 of 2465 infants (6.9%) in the higher Spo₂ target group (risk difference, 2.3% [95% CI, 0.8% to 3.8%]; RR, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.10 to 1.61], P = .003).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this prospectively planned meta-analysis of individual participant data from extremely preterm infants, there was no significant difference between a lower Spo₂ target range compared with a higher Spo₂ target range on the primary composite outcome of death or major disability at a corrected age of 18 to 24 months. The lower Spo₂ target range was associated with a higher risk of death and necrotizing enterocolitis, but a lower risk of retinopathy of prematurity treatment.

This meta-analysis uses individual participant data from 5 randomized clinical trials to compare the effects of lower vs higher oxygen saturation target ranges on death or major morbidity among infants born before 28 weeks’ gestation.

Introduction

Oxygen has been used in nurseries for more than 70 years. In the 1950s, it was shown that administering unrestricted oxygen to preterm infants significantly increased their risk of severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).¹ Oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry (Spo₂), which is a noninvasive measure, is now almost universal in neonatal intensive care units. Lower oxygen levels (Spo₂ target ≤90%) may reduce ROP,² but no studies predating these investigations^1,3 demonstrated impaired neurodevelopment or an increased risk of death. Higher oxygen levels (Spo₂ target >90%) may increase adverse pulmonary sequelae at Spo₂ levels higher than 95% in infants who remain dependent on oxygen for many weeks after birth.^4,5

A total sample size of approximately 5000 infants was required to detect the small but clinically important hypothesized difference of 4% in the primary outcome of death or major disability between lower and higher Spo₂ target ranges. To achieve this, the Neonatal Oxygenation Prospective Meta-analysis (NeOProM) Collaboration⁶ was formed in 2003 with the investigators from 5 separate randomized clinical trials prospectively planning to undertake their individual trials using similar study designs, participants, interventions, comparators and outcomes, and agreeing to provide individual participant data at trial completion for inclusion in a meta-analysis. A previous Cochrane review⁷ reported the findings of an analysis of these 5 studies using aggregate data available from the published trial reports. This article reports the results from the prospectively planned meta-analysis of the individual participant data from these trials.

Methods

Data Sources and Search Strategy

The NeOProM Collaboration was a prospectively planned meta-analysis of individual participant data for the following 5 trials: the Surfactant, Positive Pressure, and Pulse Oximetry Randomized Trial (SUPPORT),⁸ which was conducted from 2005 through 2011 in the United States; the Canadian Oxygen Trial,⁹ which was conducted from 2006 through 2012; the Benefits Of Oxygen Saturation Targeting (BOOST) in New Zealand,¹⁰ which was conducted from 2006 through 2012; BOOST II in the United Kingdom,¹¹ which was conducted from 2007 through 2014; and BOOST II in Australia,¹² which was conducted from 2006 through 2013. These studies were considered eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis prior to the results of any of the trials being known.¹³ The study protocol was published¹⁴ (Supplement 1) in January 2011 and registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The statistical analysis plan was finalized in September 2015 and appears in Supplement 2. The conduct of each trial was approved by institutional review boards or ethics committees and written informed consent was obtained from participating parents.

Study Selection and Eligibility Criteria

All 5 studies^{15,16,17,18,19,20} were randomized, double-blind, multicenter trials with infants eligible if they were born before 28 weeks’ gestation and enrolled within 24 hours of birth. Infants were randomized within each trial to target either a lower (85%-89%) or higher (91%-95%) Spo₂ range. To ensure that parents, caregivers, and outcome assessors remained masked to treatment allocation, each trial used Masimo pulse oximeters that had been modified to display and store oxygen saturations between 88% and 92% that were either 3% above or 3% below the actual values. True values were displayed if the actual Spo₂ decreased below 84% or increased above 96%. Caregivers were instructed to adjust the concentration of inspired oxygen to maintain the displayed Spo₂ between 88% and 92%, thus producing 2 treatment groups with actual target saturations of either 85% to 89% or 91% to 95% (eFigure 1 in Supplement 3).

During the trials, an artifact was identified in the calibration software of the oximeters that had the potential to influence the achieved oxygen saturation patterns.²¹ Three of the trials (BOOST II in the United Kingdom, BOOST II in Australia, and the Canadian Oxygen Trial) changed their oximeters to incorporate the revised oximeter software. Based on advice from their data and safety monitoring committees, 2 trials (BOOST II in the United Kingdom and BOOST II in Australia) were terminated by their respective trial steering committees after a pooled interim analysis of mortality data was undertaken²² in subgroups by oximeter software type when 81% and 95%, respectively, of their planned trial recruitment sample sizes had been met.

Data Extraction

A list of requested variables was sent to each trial group based on the statistical analysis plan prior to the sharing of any individual participant data for use in the combined meta-analysis. These variables included randomization and baseline characteristics (including subgroup variables) while infants were in the hospital as well as 18- to 24-month follow-up information from individual participants (a full list of prespecified variables appear in Supplement 3). Deidentified data were provided by the trial groups between March and April 2016. Data were checked for accuracy with published reports, trial protocols, and data collection sheets. Inconsistencies were discussed with individual investigators and discrepancies were resolved by consensus. Each trial verified its own finalized data set prior to inclusion in the study database. Data from the 5 included trials were collected and synthesized centrally after publication of the main results from each trial.

Key Outcome Definitions

The primary outcome was a composite of death or major disability at a corrected age of 18 to 24 months. Major disability comprised any of the following: Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development version 3 (Bayley-III)²³ cognitive or language score of less than 85; severe visual loss (cannot fixate or is legally blind with visual acuity <6/60 in both eyes); cerebral palsy with the Gross Motor Function Classification System level 2 or higher²⁴; or deafness requiring hearing aids. When a Bayley-III assessment was unavailable, some trials used alternative sources of information for classifying cognitive delay such as a Bayley-II Mental Developmental Index score of less than 70 or another validated assessment tool (eg, Griffiths test), a pediatric assessment, or a parent-reported measure of neurodevelopmental impairment (eg, able to speak <5-10 words). To assess the statistical effects of inclusion of these alternate measures of disability, a prespecified supportive analysis of the primary outcome also was undertaken (Figure 1 and Supplement 3).

Figure 1. — ^aMajor disability was prespecified (published in the Neonatal Oxygenation Prospective Meta-analysis protocol; Supplement 1) and includes any of the following: Bayley-III developmental assessment cognitive score of less than 85, language score of less than 85, or both; severe visual impairment; cerebral palsy with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS)²³ level 2 or higher, at age 18 to 24 months corrected for prematurity; or deafness requiring hearing aids.

^bThe maximum number of infants available for major disability assessment at 18 to 24 months was 3971 because 902 infants were known to have died prior to the age of 18 to 24 months. There were an additional 92 infants with unknown death status at this time point who could not be assessed for major disability outcomes.

Secondary outcomes were the components of the primary outcome (death prior to corrected age of 24 months and major disability); death prior to postmenstrual age of 36 weeks; death prior to hospital discharge; the individual components of the major disability outcome (developmental delay, severe visual impairment, deafness, cerebral palsy); ROP treated by laser photocoagulation, cryotherapy, or antivascular endothelial growth factor injection in 1 or both eyes; severe necrotizing enterocolitis leading to abdominal surgery or death; oxygen treatment at postmenstrual age of 36 weeks; postmenstrual age when each of the following respiratory support measures ceased: endotracheal intubation, continuous positive airway pressure, oxygen treatment, or home oxygen (if received); patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) diagnosed by ultrasound and receiving any treatment; PDA receiving surgical treatment; z scores for infant body weight at postmenstrual age of 36 weeks, at hospital discharge, and at corrected age of 18 to 24 months; 1 or more readmissions to the hospital by corrected age of 18 to 24 months; and time to death.

Assessing the Risk of Bias

The 5 trials were assessed for risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration domains²⁵ and consensus was reached via discussion with the full study group.

Statistical Analysis

The preplanned total sample size was 5230 infants. Because 2 of the trials were stopped early, a meta-analysis of individual participant data was undertaken of the 4965 infants recruited overall, which provided approximately 80% power (with a 2-sided P value of .05) to detect a minimum absolute risk difference of 4% in the primary composite outcome of death or major disability by a corrected age of 18 to 24 months, corresponding to a minimally important number needed to treat of 25 infants to prevent 1 major adverse outcome.¹⁴ This minimal difference was derived via discussion with clinical experts, and no formal assessments were undertaken.

The analysis was performed on an intention-to-treat basis using all data from each trial included in a single model. The I² statistic²⁶ was used to assess heterogeneity for all primary and secondary outcomes. No statistical methods were used to deal with the small proportion of missing data, but sensitivity analyses were undertaken for the primary outcome by using alternative measures of disability when Bayley-III outcomes were missing. Binary end points were analyzed using log binomial regression in a generalized estimating equations model with an exchangeable correlation structure to account for multiple births. Models were adjusted for trial as a fixed effect because the methods used for the prospective meta-analysis meant all 5 trials were very similar with respect to their included participants, interventions, and outcome definitions. Sensitivity analyses using random-effects models also were undertaken.

The results are presented as risk differences and relative risks (RRs) with 95% CIs and 2-sided P values. If these models failed to converge, Poisson models with a robust variance estimator were used. Continuous outcomes were analyzed using linear regression in models for generalized estimating equations and presented as mean differences. Time to death was assessed between treatment groups using proportional hazard models and displayed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves.²⁷

Relative risks and hazard ratios were computed such that values greater than 1 favored the higher target group. Subgroup analyses for gestational age (<26 weeks vs ≥26 weeks), inborn (indicates infant was born in the treating center) or outborn, use of any antenatal corticosteroids, sex, small for gestational age (SGA; <10th percentile using either the prespecified charts from Kramer et al²⁸ or the post hoc curves from Alexander et al²⁹ as in the SUPPORT trial³⁰), multiple birth, type of delivery (vaginal or cesarean), time of intervention commencement (<6 hours vs ≥6 hours after birth), and type of oximeter software (original vs revised) were prespecified and performed for primary and secondary outcomes by including a treatment × subgroup interaction term in the model.

Two-sided P values of less than .05 were considered to indicate statistical significance, with no adjustment for multiple comparisons. Therefore, because of the potential for type I error, the prespecified secondary outcomes and the subgroup analyses should be considered exploratory. The statistical analyses were performed using SAS version 9.3 (SAS Institute Inc).

Results

Study Identification and Selection

Characteristics of the 5 studies appear in Supplement 1 and in eTable 1 in Supplement 3. Individual participant data from 4965 infants (2480 randomized to the lower and 2485 to the higher Spo₂ target range), with a median gestational age of 26 weeks (interquartile range, 25-27 weeks) and a mean birthweight of 832 g (SD, 190 g) were included in the meta-analysis. Baseline characteristics of each of the included trials and the combined data appear in the Table. Data were available for 90% of infants for the protocol-defined primary outcome and for 96% of infants for the prespecified supportive analysis of the primary outcome, which used alternate measures of cognitive disability (Figure 1).

Table. Baseline Characteristics^a.

	SUPPORT^15,16 (n = 1316)	COT¹⁷ (n = 1201)	BOOST NZ¹⁸ (n = 340)	BOOST II UK^19,20 (n = 973)	BOOST II AUS^19,20 (n = 1135)	Spo₂ Target
	SUPPORT^15,16 (n = 1316)	COT¹⁷ (n = 1201)	BOOST NZ¹⁸ (n = 340)	BOOST II UK^19,20 (n = 973)	BOOST II AUS^19,20 (n = 1135)	Lower (n = 2480)	Higher (n = 2485)
Mothers at Birth
Use of antenatal corticosteroids, No. (%)
None	50 (3.8)	131 (10.9)	38 (11.2)	88 (9.0)	106 (9.3)	215 (8.7)	198 (8.0)
Partial course^b	326 (24.8)	259 (21.6)	89 (26.2)	272 (28.0)	293 (25.8)	609 (24.6)	630 (25.4)
Full course	939 (71.4)	807 (67.4)	213 (62.6)	607 (62.4)	727 (64.1)	1648 (66.5)	1645 (66.3)
Type of delivery, No. (%)
Normal vaginal	433 (32.9)	462 (38.6)	149 (43.8)	593 (61.1)	511 (45.0)	1064 (43.0)	1084 (43.7)
Instrumental vaginal	0	3 (0.3)	5 (1.5)	0	18 (1.6)	10 (0.4)	16 (0.6)
Cesarean	883 (67.1)	732 (61.2)	186 (54.7)	378 (38.9)	600 (52.9)	1400 (56.5)	1379 (55.5)
Infants at Birth
Birth weight, mean (SD), g	830 (193)	837 (193)	879 (194)	821 (185)	825 (184)	829 (187)	836 (192)
Girls, No. (%)	604 (45.9)	546 (45.5)	160 (47.1)	456 (46.9)	546 (48.1)	1169 (47.1)	1143 (46.0)
Gestational age, wk
Median (IQR)	26.3 (25.3-27.1)	26.0 (25.0-27.0)	26.2 (25.2-27.0)	26.1 (25.0-27.1)	26.1 (25.1-27.0)	26.0 (25.0-27.0)	26.0 (25.0-27.0)
<26, No. (%)	565 (42.9)	512 (42.6)	144 (42.4)	431 (44.3)	481 (42.4)	1063 (42.9)	1070 (43.1)
≥26, No. (%)	751 (57.1)	689 (57.4)	196 (57.6)	542 (55.7)	654 (57.6)	1417 (57.1)	1415 (56.9)
Small for gestational age, No. (%)
Defined by trial investigators^c	96 (7.3)	105 (8.7)	30 (8.8)	147 (15.2)	158 (13.9)	267 (10.8)	269 (10.8)
Defined by NeOProM^d	210 (16.0)	105 (8.7)	30 (8.8)	113 (11.6)	158 (13.9)	302 (12.2)	314 (12.6)
Apgar score at 5 min, median (IQR)^e	7 (6-8)	7 (6-8)	8 (6-9)		7 (6-8)	7 (6-8)	7 (6-8)
Admission temperature, mean (SD), °C	36.2 (0.9)	36.4 (0.9)	36.4 (1.0)	36.6 (0.9)	36.0 (1.0)	36.3 (1.0)	36.3 (0.9)
Inborn, No. (%)^f	1316 (100)	1105 (92.0)	316 (92.9)	854 (88.0)	1049 (92.4)	2327 (93.8)	2313 (93.1)
Inspired oxygen concentration immediately prior to randomization, median (IQR), %^e^,^g		21 (21-25)	21 (21-25)		21 (21-24)	21 (21-25)	21 (21-25)
Infants at Randomization
Oximeter calibration software, No. (%)
Original	1316 (100)	564 (47.0)	340 (100)	228 (23.4)	692 (61.0)	1569 (63.3)	1571 (63.2)
Revised	0	563 (46.9)	0	745 (76.6)	443 (39.0)	879 (35.4)	872 (35.1)
Mixed	0	74 (6.2)	0	0	0	32 (1.3)	42 (1.7)
Time intervention started <6 h, No. (%)^e	1283 (99.2)	53 (4.4)	56 (16.5)		119 (10.5)	752 (38.0)	759 (38.3)
Positive airway pressure, No. (%)^e
With endotracheal tube^h	835 (63.9)	925 (77.0)	230 (67.6)		714 (63.0)	1337 (67.3)	1367 (68.5)
Without endotracheal tubeⁱ	449 (34.4)	242 (20.1)	109 (32.1)		410 (36.2)	621 (31.3)	589 (29.5)
Oxygen treatment without positive airway pressure, No. (%)^e	11 (0.8)	3 (0.2)	0		1 (0.1)	9 (0.5)	6 (0.3)
No respiratory support, No. (%)^e	12 (0.9)	31 (2.6)	1 (0.3)		9 (0.8)	20 (1.0)	33 (1.7)

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Abbreviations: AUS, Australia; BOOST, Benefits Of Oxygen Saturation Targeting; COT, Canadian Oxygen Trial; IQR, interquartile range; NZ, New Zealand; Spo₂, oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry; SUPPORT, Surfactant, Positive Pressure and Pulse Oximetry Randomized Trial; UK, United Kingdom.

^{^a}

Denominators include the total number of infants with a known outcome.

^{^b}

Mother did not receive the full 2 doses within 48 hours before birth.

^{^c}

Defined using trial-specific definitions.

^{^d}

Defined as less than the 10th percentile using charts from Kramer et al.²⁸

^{^e}

Data were not available from BOOST II UK for this variable.

^{^f}

Indicates infant was born in the treating center.

^{^g}

Data were not available from SUPPORT for this variable.

^{^h}

Includes all forms of positive pressure ventilation.

^ⁱ

Includes all other forms of respiratory support including continuous positive airway pressure and nasal cannula oxygen (high or low flow).

Primary Outcomes

There was no significant difference between a lower Spo₂ target range (85%-89%) compared with a higher Spo₂ target range (91%-95%) on the primary composite outcome of death or major disability at a corrected age of 18 to 24 months (53.5% with a lower Spo₂ target vs 51.6% with a higher Spo₂ target; risk difference, 1.7% [95% CI, −1.3% to 4.6%]; RR, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.98 to 1.09]; P = .21, I² = 14%; Figure 2). A supportive analysis of the primary outcome, which included alternate measures of disability, also showed no significant between-group difference in the rate of death or major disability (51.2% with a lower Spo₂ target vs 49.3% with a higher Spo₂ target; risk difference, 1.7% [95% CI, −1.2% to 4.5%]; RR, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.98 to 1.09]; P = .20, I² = 27%; Figure 2).

Figure 2. — Box sizes correspond to precision; therefore, the more precise the larger the box. Precision was ascertained by calculating the inverse of the variance for each estimate.

^aDefined as a composite outcome of death or major disability by the age of 18 to 24 months, which was corrected for prematurity and prespecified in the published Neonatal Oxygenation Prospective Meta-analysis protocol (Supplement 1).

^bIncluded using alternative sources of information for classifying major disability as used within individual trials. This may have included a Bayley-II major disability score of less than 70, another validated assessment tool (eg, the Griffiths test), a pediatrician assessment, or parent-reported measure of neurodevelopmental impairment (eg, able to speak <5-10 words), or other measures.

^cDefined per protocol.

^dDefined using supplementary data as noted in the “b” footnote.

^eDevelopmental assessment for cognition or language.

^fDefined by Gross Motor Function Classification System²³ level 2 or greater (higher levels = functioning more impaired) or cerebral palsy diagnosed but score unknown.

^gRequiring hearing aids or worse.

^hDefined by the trial investigators.

Secondary Outcomes

Of the 16 secondary outcomes, 11 were null, 2 significantly favored a lower Spo₂ target, and 3 significantly favored a higher Spo₂ target. An analysis of each component of the primary outcome (Figure 2) showed that the lower Spo₂ target range was associated with a significantly increased incidence of death at a corrected age of 18 to 24 months (19.9% with a lower Spo₂ target vs 17.1% with a higher Spo₂ target; risk difference, 2.8% [95% CI, 0.6% to 5.0%]; RR, 1.17 [95% CI, 1.04 to 1.31]; P = .01, I² = 0%), but not major disability or the components of major disability. The survival analysis also showed a significant increase in risk of death by a corrected age of 18 to 24 months for the lower target group (hazard ratio, 1.17 [95% CI, 1.03 to 1.34]; P = .02; eTable 2 and eFigure 2 in Supplement 3).

Other secondary outcome results appear in Figure 3. These results show infants in the lower target group had an increase in death at other time points (postmenstrual age of 36 weeks and at hospital discharge), severe necrotizing enterocolitis (9.2% with a lower Spo₂ target vs 6.9% with a higher Spo₂ target; risk difference, 2.3% [95% CI, 0.8% to 3.8%]; RR, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.10 to 1.61]; P = .003), and PDA treated with surgical ligation, but a lower rate of ROP treatment (10.9% with a lower Spo₂ target vs 14.9% with a higher Spo₂ target; risk difference, −4.0% [95% CI, −6.1% to 2.0%]; RR, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.63 to 0.86], P < .003) and oxygen treatment at a postmenstrual age of 36 weeks. There were no significant between-group differences for other secondary outcomes (Figure 2).

Subgroup Analyses

There were no between-group differences for the primary outcome (death or major disability) for any of the prespecified subgroup analysis factors (gestational age, outborn, use of any antenatal corticosteroids, sex, SGA, multiple pregnancy, type of delivery, time intervention started, or oximeter software type; Figure 4). The number of prespecified subgroup analyses of secondary outcomes performed was large (n = 319; of which 17 [5%] were nominally significant), and the interaction P values were not formally adjusted for multiple subgroup comparisons and are thus considered exploratory.³¹

Figure 4. — Box sizes correspond to precision; therefore, the more precise the larger the box. Precision was ascertained by calculating the inverse of the variance for each estimate. Spo₂ indicates oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry.

^aDenominators include the total number of infants with a known outcome.

^bExcluded 74 infants in the Canadian Oxygen Trial who were exposed to both the original and revised software.

^cInborn defined as born inside the treating center; outborn, born outside the treating center (eg, transferred from another hospital).

^dLess than 10th percentile using charts from Kramer et al.²⁸

Subgroup analyses by oximeter software type (Figure 5) showed a significant difference in death by corrected age of 18 to 24 months for the original software (RR, 1.06 [95% CI, 0.91 to 1.23]; P = .47) vs the revised software (RR, 1.38 [95% CI, 1.14 to 1.68]; P = .001; P = .03 for interaction subgroup difference). A similar result was seen for death both before hospital discharge and before a postmenstrual age of 36 weeks.

Other subgroup analyses of secondary outcomes appear in eTables 3-32 in Supplement 3. Even though there were differences in the subgroups for some of the outcomes using bivariable analyses, there was no overall pattern indicating that any particular subgroup of infants benefited more or less from the lower vs the higher Spo₂ target.

There was no significant difference in the association with the lower Spo₂ target for death at a corrected age of 18 to 24 months by known risk factors such as early gestational age, SGA, male sex, or infants born outside a tertiary center (eTables 15 and 33 in Supplement 3). The association with the lower oxygen target for severe necrotizing enterocolitis was greater for inborn infants and singletons (eTable 26 in Supplement 3).

For the outcome of ROP treatment, the association with the lower Spo₂ target was larger among infants starting the intervention at an age of less than 6 hours (largely driven by SUPPORT results) and for those born via cesarean section (eTable 27 in Supplement 3). There was no difference in the association with the lower Spo₂ target for PDA among infants treated surgically for any of the prespecified subgroup variables (eTable 25 in Supplement 3). The association with a lower Spo₂ target at a postmenstrual age of 36 weeks was greater among SGA infants (eTable 30 in Supplement 3).

Sensitivity Analyses and Assessments of Bias and Heterogeneity

Sensitivity analyses exploring variations in the definition of the primary outcome (Figure 2) including a Bayley-III cognitive or language score of less than 70 or by other definition variations used by the individual trials did not change the primary outcome findings. Using a random-effects model (rather than a fixed-effect model) gave the same conclusions for all outcomes with the exception of PDA treated with surgical ligation, which became nonsignificant (eTable 34 in Supplement 3).

Overall, the 5 trials were assessed as being at low risk of bias for all domains⁷ (selection, performance or detection, attrition, and reporting biases) and had low levels of statistical heterogeneity for most outcomes. The outcome of ROP treatment had a high level of heterogeneity (I² = 80%), which resulted from the substantially larger treatment effect of the lower Spo₂ target on this outcome in the SUPPORT trial.

Discussion

In this prospectively planned meta-analysis of individual participant data involving clinical trials of extremely preterm infants, there was no significant difference between a lower Spo₂ target range (85%-89%) and a higher Spo₂ target range (91%-95%) from soon after birth on the primary composite outcome of death or major disability at a corrected age of 18 to 24 months. However, the lower target range was associated with more deaths and cases of severe necrotizing enterocolitis and less treated ROP, but was not associated with blindness.

When evaluating outcomes within a clinical trial sample or synthesizing results from several trials in a meta-analysis, the effects associated with treatment represent averages, and the true benefits and harms may differ from those in these analyses. Furthermore, tests of associations between treatment and secondary, albeit prespecified and important, outcomes (including the individual components of the composite primary outcome), should be considered exploratory and the results interpreted with caution. In particular, the statistically significant increased risk of death would not remain significant if adjusted for multiple testing. However, death was a major component of the composite primary outcome, and a clear difference in death, in either direction, was used to assess the need for early stopping in 2 trials.²² The current pooled estimated risk and 95% CIs for mortality from these trials thus provide the best currently available evidence to guide future clinical practice.

Prespecified subgroup analyses showed consistent results across trials for most outcomes, except for a larger association on treated ROP within the SUPPORT trial. The reasons for this result in the SUPPORT trial need to be explored more fully. One possible explanation for the heterogeneity is that most infants in the SUPPORT trial were randomized before birth; however, this hypothesis cannot be explored reliably in the other trials because they included too few infants recruited early.³²

Mortality was increased in the lower Spo₂ target group overall, in the first reported trial that used the original software exclusively,¹⁵ and in the prespecified subgroup analysis of original vs revised oximeter software. There has been considerable debate among the study investigators whether the change in oximeter software was responsible for this result.^{22,33,34,35,36}

A subgroup analysis undertaken by the SUPPORT trial investigators found that, in their trial, mortality in the lower Spo₂ target group was greater for SGA infants.³⁰ A prespecified subgroup analysis using a common definition of SGA²⁸ across the combined data set, and a post hoc analysis on the full data set using the same definition of SGA as used in the SUPPORT trial (curves by Alexander et al)^29,30 did not confirm this relationship.

The main strength of this meta-analysis is that the 5 trials were planned prospectively to be similar in design and their investigators agreed to undertake a combined pooled meta-analysis of individual participant data based on a protocol developed in advance of any trial results.^37,38 The statistical analysis plan was finalized after the trial results were known, but before any central receipt or synthesis of data. As would be expected with this study design, heterogeneity across the trials for most outcomes was low.

A previous Cochrane review⁷ had synthesized the aggregate data available from the published reports of the 5 trials. In contrast, these results were derived using raw individual participant data sourced directly from the trial investigators and combined centrally, making this the most comprehensive and rigorous analyses available of these data. The methods of the analyses used for the individual participant data also permitted adjustment for the correlation of multiple births; standardization of important outcomes across trials, including the definition of major disability; and enabled testing of the effect of differences in outcome definitions via sensitivity analyses. Even though the main findings are similar to some of the Cochrane Review results, the current meta-analysis of individual participant data has provided new insights into the consistency of results across multiple subgroups that indicate the findings should not be restricted to certain groups of infants such as those born SGA or at very early gestational ages. The 2016 guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics noted that their recommendations at that time were made “pending additional data, including the individual patient meta-analysis (NeOProM).”³⁹ Thus these new findings should help inform these ongoing debates.

Implications for future research may include investigations of the effects of differences in alarm limits and targeting compliance⁴⁰ and in the level of exposure to the intervention on outcomes; measures of Spo₂ achieved, the proportion of time spent at various Spo₂ levels on outcomes (eg, via prediction models adjusted for potential confounders), or both; the oximeter software change on mortality (eg, further explanation of why a larger association was seen in this subgroup); and, using automated methods to match the relatively narrow target ranges required.

Limitations

This study has several limitations. First, all 5 trials reported less separation in oxygen exposure between treatment groups than anticipated, largely because the lower Spo₂ target groups had higher than intended saturation levels.¹⁷ Second, 2 trials (BOOST II in United Kingdom and Australia) were stopped early, which may have resulted in some overestimation of the effect on mortality in these trials.⁴¹ However, excluding truncated studies from meta-analyses can lead to substantial bias due to underestimation of overall treatment effects.⁴² Therefore, the best estimate of the association with treatment remains the overall combined results from the 5 trials.

Third, the lack of an association of Spo₂ target range on blindness, but with a clear difference on ROP by treatment group, may change with longer follow-up, when less severe visual impairments may become apparent. Fourth, the potential for false-positive results based on multiple comparisons from 16 secondary outcomes and hundreds of subgroup analyses means that individual comparisons, although nominally significant, should be considered exploratory and interpreted cautiously. Fifth, even though the results are generalizable across the 5 trials, caution should be exercised not to extend these findings to other settings that do not have early screening for ROP, appropriate ROP treatment, or skilled nursing care regarding alarm limits. The trials studied Spo₂ target ranges, not oximeter alarm limits, and these 2 concepts are not interchangeable.

Conclusions

Supplement 1.

Trial protocol

jama-e185725-s001.pdf^{(149.8KB, pdf)}

Supplement 2.

Statistical analysis plan

jama-e185725-s002.pdf^{(265.8KB, pdf)}

Supplement 3.

Baseline characteristics

Primary outcome

Secondary outcomes

Subgroup variables

eTable 1. Characteristics of randomized trials included in the NeOProM Collaboration

eFigure 1. Oximeter adjustment to maintain treatment allocation blinding

eTable 2. Overall survival analysis

eFigure 2. Cumulative incidence curve of death by treatment group to 3 months age

eTable 3. Subgroup numbers by trial

eTable 4. Death or major disability (primary analysis), by subgroups

eTable 5. Death or major disability (supportive analysis), by subgroups

eTable 6. Death or major disability (secondary analysis), by subgroups

eTable 7. Death or major disability (trialist defined), by subgroups

eTable 8. Major disability (primary analysis), by subgroups

eTable 9. Major disability (supportive analysis), by subgroups

eTable 10. Major disability (secondary analysis), by subgroups

eTable 11. Major disability (trialist defined), by subgroups

eTable 12. Cerebral palsy with GMFCS ≥ 2, by subgroups

eTable 13. Severe visual impairment (trialist defined), by subgroups

eTable 14. Deafness requiring hearing aids or worse, by subgroups

eTable 15. Death prior to 18‐24 months’ age corrected for prematurity, by subgroups

eTable 16. Death prior to 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age, by subgroups

eTable 17. Death prior to discharge, by subgroups

eTable 18. Bayley‐III language and/or cognitive <85, by subgroups

eTable 19. Bayley‐III cognitive <85, by subgroups

eTable 20. Bayley‐III language <85, by subgroups

eTable 21. Bayley‐III language or cognitive <70, by subgroups

eTable 22. Bayley‐III cognitive <70, by subgroups

eTable 23. Bayley‐III language <70, by subgroups

eTable 24. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) medically or surgically treated, by subgroups

eTable 25. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) surgically treated, by subgroups

eTable 26. Severe necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), by subgroups

eTable 27. Treated retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), by subgroups

eTable 28. Positive airway pressure with endotracheal tube (ETT) at 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age (PMA), by subgroups

eTable 29. Positive airway pressure without endotracheal tube (ETT) at 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age (PMA), by subgroups

eTable 30. Supplemental oxygen without positive airway pressure at 36 weeks, by subgroups

eTable 31. Discharged home on oxygen, by subgroups

eTable 32. Re‐admission to hospital, by subgroups

eTable 33. Outcomes, by SUPPORT‐defined small for gestational age (SGA) subgroups

eTable 34. Primary and secondary outcomes using random effects models

References

jama-e185725-s003.pdf^{(5.8MB, pdf)}

References

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Associated Data

This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

Supplementary Materials

Supplement 1.

Trial protocol

jama-e185725-s001.pdf^{(149.8KB, pdf)}

Supplement 2.

Statistical analysis plan

jama-e185725-s002.pdf^{(265.8KB, pdf)}

Supplement 3.

Baseline characteristics

Primary outcome

Secondary outcomes

Subgroup variables

eTable 1. Characteristics of randomized trials included in the NeOProM Collaboration

eFigure 1. Oximeter adjustment to maintain treatment allocation blinding

eTable 2. Overall survival analysis

eFigure 2. Cumulative incidence curve of death by treatment group to 3 months age

eTable 3. Subgroup numbers by trial

eTable 4. Death or major disability (primary analysis), by subgroups

eTable 5. Death or major disability (supportive analysis), by subgroups

eTable 6. Death or major disability (secondary analysis), by subgroups

eTable 7. Death or major disability (trialist defined), by subgroups

eTable 8. Major disability (primary analysis), by subgroups

eTable 9. Major disability (supportive analysis), by subgroups

eTable 10. Major disability (secondary analysis), by subgroups

eTable 11. Major disability (trialist defined), by subgroups

eTable 12. Cerebral palsy with GMFCS ≥ 2, by subgroups

eTable 13. Severe visual impairment (trialist defined), by subgroups

eTable 14. Deafness requiring hearing aids or worse, by subgroups

eTable 15. Death prior to 18‐24 months’ age corrected for prematurity, by subgroups

eTable 16. Death prior to 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age, by subgroups

eTable 17. Death prior to discharge, by subgroups

eTable 18. Bayley‐III language and/or cognitive <85, by subgroups

eTable 19. Bayley‐III cognitive <85, by subgroups

eTable 20. Bayley‐III language <85, by subgroups

eTable 21. Bayley‐III language or cognitive <70, by subgroups

eTable 22. Bayley‐III cognitive <70, by subgroups

eTable 23. Bayley‐III language <70, by subgroups

eTable 24. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) medically or surgically treated, by subgroups

eTable 25. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) surgically treated, by subgroups

eTable 26. Severe necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), by subgroups

eTable 27. Treated retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), by subgroups

eTable 28. Positive airway pressure with endotracheal tube (ETT) at 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age (PMA), by subgroups

eTable 29. Positive airway pressure without endotracheal tube (ETT) at 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age (PMA), by subgroups

eTable 30. Supplemental oxygen without positive airway pressure at 36 weeks, by subgroups

eTable 31. Discharged home on oxygen, by subgroups

eTable 32. Re‐admission to hospital, by subgroups

eTable 33. Outcomes, by SUPPORT‐defined small for gestational age (SGA) subgroups

eTable 34. Primary and secondary outcomes using random effects models

References

jama-e185725-s003.pdf^{(5.8MB, pdf)}

[joi180046r1] 1.Askie LM, Henderson-Smart DJ. Restricted versus liberal oxygen exposure for preventing morbidity and mortality in preterm or low birth weight infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2001;4(4):CD001077. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

[joi180046r2] 2.Hellström A, Smith LE, Dammann O. Retinopathy of prematurity. Lancet. 2013;382(9902):1445-1457. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

[joi180046r3] 3.Tin W, Milligan DW, Pennefather P, Hey E. Pulse oximetry, severe retinopathy, and outcome at one year in babies of less than 28 weeks gestation. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2001;84(2):F106-F110. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

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PERMALINK

Association Between Oxygen Saturation Targeting and Death or Disability in Extremely Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Oxygenation Prospective Meta-analysis Collaboration

Lisa M Askie, PhD

Brian A Darlow, MD

Neil Finer, MD

Barbara Schmidt, MD

Ben Stenson, MD

William Tarnow-Mordi, MBChB

Peter G Davis, MD

Waldemar A Carlo, MD

Peter Brocklehurst, MBChB

Lucy C Davies, MSc

Abhik Das, PhD

Wade Rich, BSHS

Marie G Gantz, PhD

Robin S Roberts, MSc

Robin K Whyte, MB

Lorrie Costantini, BA

Christian Poets, MD

Elizabeth Asztalos, MD

Malcolm Battin, MD

Henry L Halliday, MD

Neil Marlow, DM

Win Tin, MBBS

Andrew King, BA

Edmund Juszczak, MSc

Colin J Morley, MD

Lex W Doyle, MD

Val Gebski, MSc

Kylie E Hunter, MPH

Robert J Simes, MD

Key Points

Question

Findings

Meaning

Abstract

Importance

Objective

Design, Setting, and Participants

Exposures

Main Outcomes and Measures

Results

Conclusions and Relevance

Introduction

Methods

Data Sources and Search Strategy

Study Selection and Eligibility Criteria

Data Extraction

Key Outcome Definitions

Figure 1. Participant Flow Diagram.

Assessing the Risk of Bias

Statistical Analysis

Results

Study Identification and Selection

Table. Baseline Characteristicsa.

Primary Outcomes

Figure 2. Effect of Oxygen Saturation as Measured by Pulse Oximetry (Spo2) Target Levels on Composite Primary Outcome of Death or Major Disability.

Secondary Outcomes

Figure 3. Effect of Oxygen Saturation as Measured by Pulse Oximetry (Spo2) Target Levels on Secondary Outcomes.

Subgroup Analyses

Figure 4. Subgroup Analyses of Primary Outcome Composite of Death or Major Disability.

Figure 5. Subgroup Analysis by Oximeter Software Type.

Sensitivity Analyses and Assessments of Bias and Heterogeneity

Discussion

Limitations

Conclusions

References

Associated Data

Supplementary Materials

ACTIONS

PERMALINK

RESOURCES

Similar articles

Cited by other articles

Links to NCBI Databases

Table. Baseline Characteristics^a.

Figure 2. Effect of Oxygen Saturation as Measured by Pulse Oximetry (Spo₂) Target Levels on Composite Primary Outcome of Death or Major Disability.

Figure 3. Effect of Oxygen Saturation as Measured by Pulse Oximetry (Spo₂) Target Levels on Secondary Outcomes.