Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Obesity hypoventilation syndrome laboratory findings
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Laboratory Findings
Laboratory Findings
If OHS is suspected, various tests are required for its confirmation. Arterial blood gas levels are determined to measure oxygen and carbon dioxide levels; this requires a blood sample from an artery, usually the radial artery.
Formal criteria for diagnosis of OHS are:
- Body mass index over 30 kg/m2 (a measure of obesity, obtained by taking ones weight in kilograms and dividing it by ones height in meters squared)
- Arterial carbon dioxide level over 45 mmHg or 6.0 kPa as determined by arterial blood gas measurement
- No alternative explanation for hypoventilation, such as use of narcotics
References
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]