The physiological and disturbing effects of surgical face masks in the COVID-19 era (original) (raw)

2021, Bratislava Medical Journal

BACKGROUND: In the COVID-19 pandemic, the concern about mask-harmful effects disturbed maskadherence. However, it is not certain whether the masks cause cardiopulmonary overload. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the physiological and disturbing effects of surgical face masks during exercise. METHOD: The study was conducted in a tertiary hospital with 100 healthy volunteers between September 2020 and January 2021. Individuals with impaired walking, cardiopulmonary disease, and smoking were not included in the study. Initially, respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO 2), end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO 2) were measured. Participants underwent 6-minute walking test (6MWT) with and without surgical masks. Mask-discomfort questionnaire was applied before and after 6 MWT with the mask. RESULTS: Surgical masks during 6 MWTs signifi cantly increased HR, RR, and EtCO 2 levels (p < 0.001). Walking distance (p< 0.001) and SpO 2 level (p = 0.002) were signifi cantly decreased with mask. In Mask-Discomfort Questionnaire, humidity, temperature, resistance, salinity, odor, fatigue (p < 0.001), and itching (p =0.001) scores signifi cantly increased after 6MWT with mask. CONCLUSION: In healthy volunteers, HR, RR, EtCO 2 were increased, and SpO 2 and walking distance were decreased in the short-term, light exercise performed with the surgical mask. Findings support the concern that masks may cause cardiopulmonary overload (Tab.