hypoxemia

noun

hyp·​ox·​emia ˌhi-ˌpäk-ˈsē-mē-ə How to pronounce hypoxemia (audio)
ˌhī-
: deficient oxygenation of the blood
hypoxemic adjective

Examples of hypoxemia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The study authors found that 15.6% of white patients had hidden hypoxemia while 19.6% of Black patients did. Usha Lee McFarling, STAT, 13 July 2022 And in many cases, the pulse oximeter readings were lower than measured in blood, while the concern in clinical studies has been that the devices showed erroneously higher oxygen levels in people with darker skin, meaning clinicians might miss dangerous hypoxemia, or low oxygen. Usha Lee McFarling, STAT, 16 Dec. 2022 The 2020 study—led by researchers in Michigan and published in the New England Journal of Medicine—found that pulse oximeters were nearly three times more likely to miss dangerously low blood oxygen levels (hypoxemia) in Black patients compared with white patients. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 15 Sep. 2022 Gwendena Lee-Gatewood, the chairwoman of the tribe, says the sound of her voice over radio waves (cell reception is spotty on the reservation) was reassuring for stubborn elders with silent hypoxemia refusing pulse oximeter tests or an urgent ride to the ER. Mark Oprea, Time, 12 Nov. 2021 Hidden hypoxemia was associated with 70% higher mortality and more severe organ dysfunction. A. Ian Wong, STAT, 8 July 2022 The problem is worse, however, among patients of color: For every five white patients with hidden hypoxemia, seven Black patients (38% more) were affected. A. Ian Wong, STAT, 8 July 2022 Patients must be found to have severe hypoxemia or below 93 percent arterial oxygen saturation levels, both of which would suggest the individual was severely starved of oxygen. Vic Chiang, Washington Post, 20 Dec. 2022 Montes died a week later in a Green Bay hospital of acute respiratory failure with hypoxemia due to COVID-19 pneumonia, according to his death certificate. Maria Perez, jsonline.com, 20 May 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hypoxemia.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

circa 1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hypoxemia was circa 1886

Dictionary Entries Near hypoxemia

Cite this Entry

“Hypoxemia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypoxemia. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Medical Definition

hypoxemia

noun
hyp·​ox·​emia
variants or chiefly British hypoxaemia
: deficient oxygenation of the blood
hypoxemic adjective
or chiefly British hypoxaemic

More from Merriam-Webster on hypoxemia

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!