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Until recently, providing supplemental oxygen to all sick hospitalized patients, often maintaining oxygen saturations near 100%, was routine practice. However, newer studies suggest that hyperoxia provides little benefit and might be harmful. This guideline is based on an April 2018 meta-analysis of 25 randomized trials, which showed significantly higher mortality with liberal use of supplemental oxygen in acutely ill patients compared with conservative oxygen use (NEJM JW Hosp Med Jul 2018 and Lancet 2018; 391:1693).
For acutely ill adult medical patients who require oxygen therapy, the upper limit for peripheral capil…