The Effect of N95 Mask on Peripheral Oxygen Saturation and Heart Rate among Indian Medical Professionals: A Quasi-experimental Study
Published: September 1, 2023 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2023/66360.18423
Anand Gautam Jadhao, Rupali Gupta, Ravi Ramkishan Yadav, Nitin Yadav, Soni Ishwar Charde
1. Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Shri Ram Murti Smarak Institute of Medical Sciences, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
2. MBBS Student (Third Professional Part-2), Shri Ram Murti Smarak Institute of Medical Sciences, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
3. Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Prasad Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
4. MBBS Student (Third Professional Part-2), Shri Ram Murti Smarak Institute of Medical Sciences, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
5. Quality Manager, Department of Quality Management, Shri Ram Murti Smarak Institute of Medical Sciences, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Correspondence
Ravi Ramkishan Yadav,
Flat No. 204, Krishna Tower, Krishnalok Phase-2, Darogakhera, Near Parth Republic, Lucknow-Kanpur Road, Lucknow-226401, Uttar Pradesh, India.
E-mail: drraviaugust@gmail.com
Introduction: Among all face masks, N95 masks have been recommended for medical professionals involved mainly in patients with severe respiratory illnesses. Studies showing a decrease in peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and an increase in heart rate after N95 mask usage have already created panic/concern among medical professionals. On the contrary, a few studies have shown no such negative impact of N95 mask usage, thereby urging scientific communities to investigate/explore these contrasting results.
Aim: To study the effect of wearing an N95 mask continuously for three hours on SpO2 and heart rate specifically in Indian medical professionals.
Materials and Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study conducted for a period of 2 months from June 15, 2022, to August 15, 2022, at Shri Ram Murti Smarak Institute of Medical Sciences, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India, with a total of 105 healthy Indian medical professionals aged 18-40 years (55 males, 50 females) (12 study participants dropped from the study midway). In each participant, SpO2 and heart rate were recorded first without a mask (M0) and then with a mask (M3) after three hours of routine work in the hospital. Using Mystat statistical software (version 12.0), results were expressed as mean±Standard Deviation (SD), and Student’s paired t-test was used to compare the pairs of means.
Results: Among the 105 eligible participants, 93 successfully completed the study, whereas 12 participants were excluded (dropout rate=11.42%). The study included 55 males (52.38%) and 50 females (47.61%) with an age range of 18-40 years and a mean age of 30.2±6.4 years. The SpO2 levels statistically showed a highly significant decrease after three hours of wearing an N95 mask (96.5±0.83% in M0 vs. 93.98±0.6% in M3). Similarly, the heart rate statistically showed a highly significant increase after three hours of using an N95 mask (73.45±3.6 in M0 vs. 89.6±6.1 beats/min in M3).
Conclusion: The authors highlighted lower SpO2 levels and an increase in heart rate after three hours of N95 mask usage specifically in Indian medical professionals and thereby appeal to develop/upgrade the N95 mask by lowering its humidity, thermal stress, and breathing resistance.
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