tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Thorac Dis
. 2024 Mar 29;16(3):1854-1865.
doi: 10.21037/jtd-23-1178. Epub 2024 Mar 27. Effects of no mask, a surgical mask and a fabric buff on peripheral oxygenation saturation during moderate intensity exercise: a randomised cross-over study
Dina Christa Janse van Rensburg[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Audrey Jansen van Rensburg[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Tanita Botha[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Kirsty Elliott[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Dimakatso Ramagole[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lervasen Pillay[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Shona Hendricks[SUP] 1 3 [/SUP], Devlin Eyden[SUP] 1 3 [/SUP], Claire Arnott[SUP] 3 [/SUP], David James Stevens[SUP] 1 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: Mask-wearing caused significant reductions in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission. We aimed to determine whether face mask-wearing during exercise caused reductions in peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO[SUB]2[/SUB]) and whether it affected secondary physiological measures [end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO[SUB]2[/SUB]), respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), expired breath temperature (EBT)]. Subjective measurements included ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), ratings of perceived breathlessness (RPB), and symptomology.
Methods: A randomised cross-over trial examined no mask (NM), surgical mask (SM) and a buff mask (BM). Thirty participants (30-45 years) cycled at 60% power output for 30 min in three exercise sessions, 24 h apart, within 6 days. Each session recorded all measures at resting baseline (T0), 9 min (T1), 18 min (T2), and 27 min (T3). Dependent statistical tests determined significant differences between masks and time-points.
Results: SpO[SUB]2[/SUB] decreased for SM and BM between T0 compared to T1, T2 and T3 (all P<0.005). BM caused significant reductions at T1 and T2 compared to NM (P<0.001 and P=0.018). Significant changes in EtCO[SUB]2[/SUB] and EBT occurred throughout exercise and between exercise stages for all mask conditions (P<0.001). As expected for moderate intensity exercise, RR and HR were significantly higher during exercise compared to T0 (P<0.001). RPB significantly increased for each condition at each time point (P<0.001). RPE was not significant between mask conditions at any exercise stage.
Conclusions: SM and BM caused a mild but sustained reduction in SpO[SUB]2[/SUB] at commencement of exercise, which did not worsen throughout short (<30 min) moderate intensity exercise. Level of perception was similar, suggesting healthy people can wear masks during moderate exercise and activities of daily living.
Keywords: Facemask; dyspnoea; exercise; oxygen saturation (SpO2).
. 2024 Mar 29;16(3):1854-1865.
doi: 10.21037/jtd-23-1178. Epub 2024 Mar 27. Effects of no mask, a surgical mask and a fabric buff on peripheral oxygenation saturation during moderate intensity exercise: a randomised cross-over study
Dina Christa Janse van Rensburg[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Audrey Jansen van Rensburg[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Tanita Botha[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Kirsty Elliott[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Dimakatso Ramagole[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lervasen Pillay[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Shona Hendricks[SUP] 1 3 [/SUP], Devlin Eyden[SUP] 1 3 [/SUP], Claire Arnott[SUP] 3 [/SUP], David James Stevens[SUP] 1 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 38617788
- PMCID: PMC11009602
- DOI: 10.21037/jtd-23-1178
Background: Mask-wearing caused significant reductions in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission. We aimed to determine whether face mask-wearing during exercise caused reductions in peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO[SUB]2[/SUB]) and whether it affected secondary physiological measures [end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO[SUB]2[/SUB]), respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), expired breath temperature (EBT)]. Subjective measurements included ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), ratings of perceived breathlessness (RPB), and symptomology.
Methods: A randomised cross-over trial examined no mask (NM), surgical mask (SM) and a buff mask (BM). Thirty participants (30-45 years) cycled at 60% power output for 30 min in three exercise sessions, 24 h apart, within 6 days. Each session recorded all measures at resting baseline (T0), 9 min (T1), 18 min (T2), and 27 min (T3). Dependent statistical tests determined significant differences between masks and time-points.
Results: SpO[SUB]2[/SUB] decreased for SM and BM between T0 compared to T1, T2 and T3 (all P<0.005). BM caused significant reductions at T1 and T2 compared to NM (P<0.001 and P=0.018). Significant changes in EtCO[SUB]2[/SUB] and EBT occurred throughout exercise and between exercise stages for all mask conditions (P<0.001). As expected for moderate intensity exercise, RR and HR were significantly higher during exercise compared to T0 (P<0.001). RPB significantly increased for each condition at each time point (P<0.001). RPE was not significant between mask conditions at any exercise stage.
Conclusions: SM and BM caused a mild but sustained reduction in SpO[SUB]2[/SUB] at commencement of exercise, which did not worsen throughout short (<30 min) moderate intensity exercise. Level of perception was similar, suggesting healthy people can wear masks during moderate exercise and activities of daily living.
Keywords: Facemask; dyspnoea; exercise; oxygen saturation (SpO2).