Objective:To understand the distribution characteristics of pulse oxygen saturation (SpO 2) in the high altitude areas. Methods:From September 2016 to December 2017, all healthy and full-term live births in the First Hospital of Lanzhou University and Dunhuang, Jiuquan, Jingning and Lintao branches were selected as the research objects.Critical congenital heart disease or pulmonary diseases were excluded in advance.SpO 2 in different parts of newborns within 12 hours of birth was measured.Statistical comparisons of SpO 2 in different parts of male and female neonates in the same area and SpO 2 in different parts of different regions were made.The number of SpO 2 and the distribution of percentile difference between the lower limbs and the right upper limb of newborns at different altitude areas were obtained. Results:There were no significant difference between male and female infants in SpO 2 value at any lo-wer extremity and right upper extremity and the difference value in the same area (all P>0.05). There were significant differences in the median ( M) values of SpO 2 and the M value of the difference between the two values of any lower limb and right upper limb at different altitudes (all P<0.05). The results showed that the M value of SpO 2 of the right upper limb ( M=96%) in Lanzhou (1 520 m above sea level) was lower than that in Dunhuang (1 138 m above sea level, M=97%) and Jiuquan (1 481 m above sea level, M=97%), and the M value of the difference between the two values ( M=2%) was higher than that in Dunhuang and Jiuquan ( M=1%) ( P<0.05). The M of SpO 2 of any lower limb ( M=96%) and right upper limb ( M=96%) in Jingning areas (1 668 m above sea level) were lower than that in Dunhuang and Jiuquan area (all P<0.05). The median value of SpO 2 of any lower limb ( M=96%) and right upper limb ( M=96%) in Lintao area (1 883 m above sea level) was lower than that in Dunhuang and Jiuquan areas, and the M value of the difference between the two values ( M=2%) was higher than that in Dunhuang and Jiuquan (all P< 0.05). When the altitude was lower than 1 500 m, the M value of SpO 2 was 97%, P3- P97 was 93%-100%; the M value of the difference between any lower limb and right upper limb was 1, and P3- P97 was 0-4.When the altitude was higher than 1 500 m, the M value of SpO 2 was 95%-96%, P3- P97 was 89%-100%; the M value of SpO 2 of an lower limb and right upper limb was 1%-2%, and P3- P97 was 0-9%. Conclusions:The SpO 2 number and percentage distribution of the difference between any lower limb and right upper limb of newborns at different altitudes are different.