Efficacy of a Pocket Pulse Oximeter and a Digital Pulse Oximeter as Screening Tools for Type 2 Diabetes Patients with Asymptomatic Lower Extremity Arterial Disease.

The risk of developing lower extremity arterial diseases (LEAD) increases by 2-4 folds in patients with diabetes mellitus. Diabetic individuals with LEAD are more likely than non-diabetic individuals to have limb amputations, and they have a higher risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular problems. The present study sought to assess the efficacy of two pulse oximeters, a high-quality standard digital pulse oximeter and an inexpensive pocket pulse oximeter, to detect LEAD in patients with diabetes mellitus.