Forty-steps desaturation test does not have prognostic value in COVID-19 due to omicron variant.

Thangakunam, Balamugesh; Isaac, Barney; Sekar, Rajasekar; Abhilash, Kundavaram Paul Prabhakar; Nellimootil, Mathew Varghese; Paul, Hema; Christopher, Devasahayam Jesudas

The article in Lung India discusses the use of the 40-steps desaturation test in predicting outcomes for COVID-19 patients with the Omicron variant. The study recruited 137 patients, showing a statistically significant but not clinically relevant reduction in oxygen saturation after the test. Despite some patients experiencing significant desaturation during the test, none required hospitalization, and there was no mortality in the cohort. The study concludes that the 40-steps test does not have prognostic value in predicting future deterioration, hospitalization, or mortality in COVID-19 patients with the Omicron variant.

COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant; SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant; PNEUMOCYSTIS pneumonia; EVIDENCE-based medicine; DEATH forecasting

Lung India, 2025, Vol 42, Issue 3, p270

0970-2113

Academic Journal

10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_7_25