Abstract
BACKGROUND Face masks have become an important part of the COVID-19 prevention approach. This study aimed to explore the effect of wearing masks on exercise ability and ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT). MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty-four young, healthy volunteers were included in this study, consisting of 18 men and 16 women. The subjects were randomized to perform 2 cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) on a cycle ergometer with gas exchange analysis, one with and another without wearing a face mask (cross-over design). The general data for all subjects and indicators from the 2 exercise tests performed with and without wearing a face mask were collected. RESULTS In cardiopulmonary exercise tests, wearing a mask significantly (P<0.05) decreased peak indexes (eg, work rate (WR), oxygen consumption per kg body weight (VO₂/kg), heart rate (HR), ventilation per minute (VE) and carbon dioxide ventilation equivalent (VE/VCO₂)) and anaerobic threshold indexes (eg, WR, HR, VE, breath frequency (BF), dead space ratio (VD/VT), and VE/VCO₂). However, the PETCO₂ at peak was significantly higher. There was a positive linear correlation between WR difference and VO₂ difference at VAT (abbreviated as deltaWR@VAT and deltaVO₂@VAT, respectively) (r=0.495, P=0.003). Subgroup analysis of the VAT indexes showed that WR, VO₂/kg, and VE were significantly decreased in the advanced VAT group with mask compared with the stable VAT group with mask (P<0.05). Logistic regression showed that deltaVE, deltaBF, and deltaVE/VCO₂ had independent influences on VAT. CONCLUSIONS Wearing masks advances VAT in healthy young subjects during CPET. The advanced VAT was associated with changes in VE, BF, and VE/VCO₂ while wearing masks.
【초록키워드】 COVID-19, Cardiopulmonary, Ventilation, oxygen, Mask, Randomized, Gas exchange, breath, women, threshold, Face mask, Frequency, Analysis, face, subject, wearing masks, ventilatory, positive linear correlation, dead, wearing, men, approach, independent, performed, collected, significantly, healthy, changes in, significantly higher, influences on, all subject, cross-over, healthy volunteer, wearing mask, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19, exercise, Mask, Capacity, face, wearing, Effect, anaerobic,