Exercise oxygen desaturation is a predictor of cardiopulmonary complications after lung resection

<jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>To investigate whether oxygen desaturation during low technology tests was associated with complications after lung resection.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 1097 candidates for pulmonary resection; seven metabolic equivalents in the Master’s double two-step test were loaded. The predicted postoperative (PPO) forced expiratory volume in 1 s and PPO diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide were estimated. The patients were divided into three groups: those with both values ≥60% (≥60% group (n=298)), either value <30% (<30% group (n=112)) and others (30%–60% group (n=687)). The relationships between postoperative cardiopulmonary complications and exercise stress test based on availability, symptoms and percutaneous oxygen saturation values were investigated in each group.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Τhe cardiopulmonary morbidity rates in the ≥60%, 30%–60%, and <30% groups were 7.7%, 14.6%, and 47.3%, respectively. Multivariate analyses revealed that predictors of complications were age (OR 0.96; p<0.001), male sex (OR 1.74; p=0.016) and exercise oxygen desaturation (EOD) >4% (OR 2.39; p=0.001) in the 30%–60% group, and male sex (OR 3.76; p=0.042) and EOD >4% (OR 2.28; p=0.030) in the <30% group.</jats:p><jats:p>The two-flight test (TFT) was performed in 181 patients (22.8%); desaturation >4% in the TFT was also a predictor of complications.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p>A low technology test is also valuable for high-risk patients. EOD >4% is a predictor of postoperative complications.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Clinical registration</jats:title><jats:p>This study is a non-interventional observational study and has not been registered in a public database. The study followed the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology reporting guidelines.</jats:p><jats:p>This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Juntendo University School of Medicine (no. 2016085).</jats:p></jats:sec>