Fraction of inspired oxygen (F_IO₂), correctly denoted with a capital I,^[1] is the molar or volumetric fraction of oxygen in the inhaled gas. Medical patients experiencing difficulty breathing are provided with oxygen-enriched air, which means a higher-than-atmospheric F_IO₂. Natural air includes 21% oxygen, which is equivalent to F_IO₂ of 0.21. Oxygen-enriched air has a higher F_IO₂ than 0.21; up to 1.00 which means 100% oxygen. F_IO₂ is typically maintained below 0.5 even with mechanical ventilation, to avoid oxygen toxicity,^[2] but there are applications when up to 100% is routinely used.

Often used in medicine, the F_IO₂ is used to represent the percentage of oxygen participating in gas-exchange. If the barometric pressure changes, the F_IO₂ may remain constant while the partial pressure of oxygen changes with the change in barometric pressure.

Equations

Abbreviated alveolar air equation

${\displaystyle P_{A}{\ce {O2))={\frac {P_{E}{\ce {O2))-P_{I}{\ce {O2)){\frac {V_{D)){V_{t)))){1-{\frac {V_{D)){V_{t))))))$

P_AO₂, P_EO₂, and P_IO₂ are the partial pressures of oxygen in alveolar, expired, and inspired gas, respectively, and VD/Vt is the ratio of physiologic dead space over tidal volume.

Medicine

In medicine, the F_IO₂ is the assumed percentage of oxygen concentration participating in gas exchange in the alveoli.^[3]

Uses

The F_IO₂ is used in the APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) severity of disease classification system for intensive care unit patients.^[4] For F_IO₂ values equal to or greater than 0.5, the alveolar–arterial gradient value should be used in the APACHE II score calculation. Otherwise, the PaO₂ will suffice.^[4]

The ratio between partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) and F_IO₂ is used as an indicator of hypoxemia per the American-European Consensus Conference on lung injury. A high F_IO₂ has been shown to alter the ratio of P_aO₂/F_IO₂.^[3]

P_aO₂/F_IO₂ ratio

The ratio of partial pressure arterial oxygen and fraction of inspired oxygen, known as the Horowitz index or Carrico index, is a comparison between the oxygen level in the blood and the oxygen concentration that is breathed. This helps to determine the degree of any problems with how the lungs transfer oxygen to the blood.^[5] A sample of arterial blood is collected for this test.^[6] With a normal P_aO₂ of 60–100 mmHg and an oxygen content of F_IO₂ of 0.21 of room air, a normal P_aO₂/F_IO₂ ratio ranges between 300 and 500 mmHg. A P_aO₂/F_IO₂ ratio less than or equal to 200 mmHg is necessary for the diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome by the AECC criteria.^[7] The more recent Berlin criteria defines mild ARDS at a ratio of less than 300 mmHg.

A P_aO₂/F_IO₂ ratio less than or equal to 250 mmHg is one of the minor criteria for severe community acquired pneumonia (i.e., possible indication for inpatient treatment).

A P_aO₂/F_IO₂ ratio less than or equal to 333 mmHg is one of the variables in the SMART-COP risk score for intensive respiratory or vasopressor support in community-acquired pneumonia.

Example calculation

After drawing an arterial blood gas sample from a patient the P_aO₂ is found to be 100 mmHg. Since the patient is receiving oxygen-saturated air resulting in a F_IO₂ of 50% oxygen his calculated P_aO₂/F_IO₂ ratio would be 100 mmHg/0.50 = 200 mmHg.

Related mathematics

Alveolar air equation

The alveolar air equation is the following formula, used to calculate the partial pressure of alveolar gas:

${\displaystyle P_{A}{\ce {O2))=F_{I}{\ce {O2))(PB-P{\ce {H2O)))-P_{A}{\ce {CO2))\left(F_{I}{\ce {O2))+{\frac {1-F_{I}{\ce {O2))}{R))\right)}$