To the Editor:

Re “How We Can Get Ahead of Covid-19” (Sunday Review, April 26):

Dr. Richard Levitan suggests that using oximeters to measure oxygen saturation at home will help prevent deaths from Covid-19. This is an unfortunate simplification of a very complicated disease process that we are just beginning to understand.

Working in a dedicated Covid-19 ambulatory clinic in Somerville, Mass., where we have evaluated more than 1,800 patients since mid-March, we have learned one thing for certain: It’s much more complicated than that.

Currently, we use home oximeters for some patients, but we have already seen risks with their use, including inappropriate reassurance for both clinicians and patients; false readings, both low and high; and inappropriate overreliance on a single number rather than complete assessment of the patient.

Home oximeters should be carefully studied to determine their appropriate role in the management of ambulatory Covid-19 patients. We should move swiftly but thoughtfully during the pandemic to ensure that we do not cause more harm than good.