CHEST 2023 On Demand Pass-Pulmonary Physiology: Exercise Testing in the 21st Century

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The study examined the effects of wearing different types of masks on the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in healthy healthcare workers. A total of 34 participants completed the study, which utilized a randomized crossover design. The participants performed three sets of 6MWTs with different types of masks, including surgical masks and N95 respirators. Measurements taken included total distance walked, vital signs, oxygen saturation, and perceived dyspnea and fatigue using the modified Borg score. The results showed that there were significant differences in oxygen saturation and perceived dyspnea among the different mask groups. Specifically, the lowest oxygen saturations were observed in the surgical mask group, and the highest level of perceived dyspnea was reported in the N95 respirator group. Additionally, the total distance walked was significantly lower in the N95 respirator group compared to the unmasked group. The study highlights the potential effects of wearing masks on exercise performance and perceived exertion, especially during activities of submaximal exercise. The findings suggest the need for careful management of expectations and cautious interpretation of 6MWT results when comparing individuals wearing different types of masks.

Meta Tag

Category Pulmonary Physiology

Session ID 4036

Speaker Gustavo Cortes Puentes

Speaker Rachelle Mae Legaspi

Speaker David Lyons

Speaker Divya Narayanan

Speaker William Stringer

Track Pulmonary Physiology

Keywords

effects of masks

six-minute walk test

healthy healthcare workers

randomized crossover design

surgical masks

N95 respirators

oxygen saturation

perceived dyspnea

modified Borg score