Respiratory failure & ventilation
Global environmental and geo-economic impact of conservative versus liberal oxygen strategies in mechanically ventilated critically ill adults: an ecological country-level analysis
Authors' conclusion
Conservative oxygenation strategies reduce oxygen-related costs and emissions.
Study context
- Population
- Mechanically ventilated critically ill adults; 2024 country-level aggregate data200 countries
- Comparison
- Conservative vs liberal oxygenation targets
- Outcome
- Total oxygen consumption costs (2024 int$) and associated greenhouse gas emissions (ktCO2eq)
- Follow-up
- Annual
Methodological detailsMonte-Carlo simulation, Bayesian multivariable regression, scenario analyses
- Monte-Carlo simulation
- Bayesian multivariable regression
- Scenario analyses
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Difference
104 million int$
global annual expenditures 180 (liberal) to 76 (conservative) million int$
Difference
516 ktCO2eq
emissions 884 (liberal) to 368 (conservative) ktCO2eq
Further findings
Determinants of oxygen-related costs
- Lower costs in countries with higher GDP per capita; higher with greater PM2.5 exposure and higher out-of-pocket health spending
Per-ICU bed greenhouse gas emissions
- Highest in the Eastern Mediterranean, Central Asia and upper-middle-income countries; higher fossil-fuel electricity share and hospital-bed density associated with increased emissions
Decarbonisation scenarios
- Cleaner grids would reduce global oxygen-related emissions
- 49.4%-91.9%
Original publication
Global environmental and geo-economic impact of conservative versus liberal oxygen strategies in mechanically ventilated critically ill adults: an ecological country-level analysis. Br J Anaesth. Published 1 July 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →