RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Effects of COVID-19 protective face-masks and wearing durations onto respiratory-haemodynamic physiology and exhaled breath constituents
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 2200009
DO 10.1183/13993003.00009-2022
A1 Pritam Sukul
A1 Julia Bartels
A1 Patricia Fuchs
A1 Phillip Trefz
A1 Rasmus Remy
A1 Leo Rührmund
A1 Svend Kamysek
A1 Jochen K Schubert
A1 Wolfram Miekisch
YR 2022
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2022/02/10/13993003.00009-2022.abstract
AB Background While assumed to protect against coronavirus transmission, face-masks may have effects on respiratory-haemodynamic parameters. Within this pilot study, we investigated immediate and progressive effects of FFP2 and surgical masks on exhaled breath constituents and physiological attributes in 30 adults at rest.Methods We continuously monitored exhaled breath profiles within mask space in older (age: 60–80 years) and young to mid-aged (age: 20–60 years) adults over the period of 15 and 30 min, respectively by high-resolution real-time mass-spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS). Peripheral oxygen saturation, respiratory- and haemodynamic parameters were measured (non-invasively) simultaneously.Results Profound, consistent and significant (p-value≤0.001) changes in SpO2 (Adults>60_FFP2-15 min: 5.8±1.3%↓, Adults>60_surgical-15 min: 3.6±0.9%↓, Adults<60_FFP2-30 min: 1.9±1.0%↓, Adults<60_surgical-30 min: 0.9±0.6%↓) and pET-CO2 (Adults>60_FFP2-15 min: 19.1±8.0%↑, Adults>60_surgical-15 min: 11.6±7.6%↑, Adults<60_FFP2- 30 min: 12.1±4.5%↑, Adults<60_surgical- 30 min: 9.3±4.1%↑) indicate ascending deoxygenation and hypercarbia. Secondary changes (p-value≤0.005) to hemodynamic parameters (e.g. MAP: Adults>60_FFP2-15 min: 9.8±10.4%↑) were found. Exhalation of blood-borne volatile metabolites e.g. aldehydes, hemiterpene, organosulfur, short-chain fatty acids, alcohols, ketone, aromatics, nitrile and monoterpene mirrored behaviour of cardiac output, MAP, SpO2, respiratory rate and pET-CO2. Exhaled humidity (e.g. Adults>60_FFP2-15 min: 7.1±5.8%↑) and exhaled oxygen (e.g. Adults>60_FFP2-15 min: 6.1±10.0%↓) changed significantly (p-value≤0.005) over time.Conclusions Breathomics allows unique physio-metabolic insights into immediate and transient effects of face-mask wearing. Physiological parameters and breath profiles of endogenous and/or exogenous volatile metabolites indicated putative cross-talk between transient hypoxemia, oxidative stress, hypercarbia, vasoconstriction, altered systemic microbial activity, energy homeostasis, compartmental storage and washout. FFP2 masks affected more pronouncedly than surgical masks. Older adults were more vulnerable to FFP2 mask induced hypercarbia, arterial oxygen decline, blood pressure fluctuations and concomitant physiological and metabolic effects.FootnotesThis manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the European Respiratory Journal. It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJ online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article.Conflict of interest: The authors have nothing to disclose.