Prevalence and Pattern of Low Oxygen Saturation among Dental Patients during Covid-19 Pandemic in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

Abstract

Objective: Low oxygen saturation is widely reported to be associated with Covid-19 infections but data on this is scarce in our environment. Therefore, this study assessed the prevalence and pattern of low oxygen saturation among dental patients during covid-19 pandemic in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in the department of oral diagnosis in a Nigerian tertiary hospital from January to March 2021.  The demographic data collected were age, gender, religion, and occupation; others were level of education and place of residence. The clinical data collected were previous history of Covid -19 infection, medical condition, use of facemask, and dental condition. Others were oxygen saturation level and referred department. All analysis was performed with SPSS software version 24.  A P-value less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant

Results: A total number of 150 patients were recruited in this study. Their age range was 18 -85 years with a mean age of 35.2±15.9 years. There were more males compared to females given a male to female ratio was 1.1: 1.  Generalised chronic marginal gingivitis was the most (40.0%) prevalent dental conditions and this was followed (15.3%) by acute apical periodontitis. Most (42.0%) of the patients were referred to the department of periodontics and this was followed (35.3%) by the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Only 10 patients had low oxygen saturation given a prevalence of 6.2%. All the demographic variables were not significantly associated with low oxygen saturation (P>0.05). Also, all the clinical variables studied were not statistically significant with low oxygen saturation (P>0.05).

Conclusion:  The prevalence of low oxygen saturation among dental patients in a Nigerian tertiary hospital was unremarkable. There was no association between low oxygen saturation and demographic and clinical variables of the dental patients