Wearing face masks while climbing stairs influences respiratory physiology

In this study, healthy adults climbed 5 floors with and without a mask. Various cardio-respiratory parameters were measured, including O2 −saturation (O2−Sat) and end-tidal CO2 (EtCO2), at baseline and on the top floor. Subjective indexes, such as Borg’s scale, were evaluated. Thirty-two volunteers (16 males), median age 39 years (IQR 32.5–43), median BMI = 23.6 (IQR 21.5–25.1), with good fitness levels, participated. Compar ing baseline to end-activity, median (IQR): O2−Sat change was −1.0% (−2–0) without mask, versus −3.0% (−4–0) with mask, p = 0.003; EtCO2 + 7.0 (+3.3–+9) without mask, versus +8.0 (+6–+12) with mask, p = 0.0001. Hypercarbia was seen in 5 (15.6%) participants without mask, median = 4 8 mmHg (IQR 47.5–51), and in 11 (34%) participants with mask, median = 50 mmHg (IQR 47–54), p

Source: Journal of Breath Research - May 8, 2024 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Ophir Bar-On, Ori Goldberg, Patrick Stafler, Hagit Levine, Eyal Jacobi, Einat Shmueli, Ben Rothschild, Dario Prais and Meir Mei-Zahav Source Type: research