Abstract

Concerns are repeatedly raised about possible adverse respiratory effects of wearing filtering face pieces (FFP) during physical activity. This study compared the impact of FFP type 2 (NF95) on pulmonary function, blood gas values, metabolism and discomfort during light, moderate and vigorous physical activity. Healthy adults (n = 13; 6 females, 7 males; mean 31.3, SD 5.5 years) participated in this randomized two-armed (Ergometer cycling with a FFP type 2 vs. no mask) crossover trial. Baseline cardiopulmonary exercise testing and two interventions (masked and unmasked ergometer cycling 40%, 50% and 70% VO2max, 10 min each) were separated by 48 h washout periods. Spiroergometric data (End tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure PetCO2; breathing frequency; inspiration time), blood gas analysis outcomes (capillary carbon dioxide partial pressure, pCO2) and subjective response (Breathing effort and perceived exertion) were contrasted between conditions using ANOVAs. All participants completed the crossover trial, seven started with the FFP2 condition (No adverse events or side effects). FFP2 decreased breathing frequency, prolonged inspiration time, increased perceived breathing effort and PetCO2 (p < .05). Blood pCO2 in millimetres mercury increased during exercise with 50%VO2max (mean 36.67, SD 3.19 vs. mean 38.46, SD 2.57; p < .05) and 70%VO2max (35.04, 2.84 vs. 38.17, 3.43; p < .05) but not during exercise with 40%VO2max (36.55, 2.73 vs. 38.70). Perceived exertion was not affected (p > 0.05) by mask wearing. Conclusion: Mask-induced breathing resistance decreased respiratory performance and limited pulmonary gas exchange. While FFP2 affected subjective breathing effort per se, invasive diagnostics showed that statistically significant metabolic effects are induced from moderate intensity upwards.

Trial registration: DRKS-ID: DRKS00030181, Date of registration: 05/09/2022 (German Register for Clinical Trials).

Details

Title
Investigating effects of FFP2 wearing during physical activity on gas exchange, metabolism and affective state using a randomized controlled trial
Author
Engeroff, Tobias 1 ; Heinsel, Katrin 1 ; Niederer, Daniel 2 ; Nienhaus, Albert 3 ; Groneberg, David A. 4 ; Vogt, Lutz 5 

 Goethe University Frankfurt, Division Health and Performance, Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Frankfurt am Main, Germany (GRID:grid.7839.5) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 9721) 
 University of Wuppertal, Department of Movement and Training Science, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Institute of Sports Science, Wuppertal, Germany (GRID:grid.7787.f) (ISNI:0000 0001 2364 5811) 
 University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Institute for Health Service Research in Dermatology and Nursing, Hamburg, Germany (GRID:grid.13648.38) (ISNI:0000 0001 2180 3484) 
 Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Frankfurt am Main, Germany (GRID:grid.7839.5) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 9721) 
 Goethe-University Frankfurt, Department of Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology, Institute of Sport Sciences, Frankfurt am Main, Germany (GRID:grid.7839.5) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 9721) 
Pages
6278
Publication year
2024
Publication date
2024
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2957628329
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2024. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.