Impact of face masks during the treadmill exercise tests. / Impacto del uso de la mascarilla durante la realización de la prueba de esfuerzo en tapiz rodante.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: There is little literature on the use of face masks in a treadmill test (TMT) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of face masks during a TMT performed during the prepandemic (without face mask) and postpandemic (with face mask) era. METHODS: Retrospective observational unicentric study of patients undergoing TMT. The inclusion criterion were being over 16years old and having performed at least one TMT in the prepandemic and postpandemic period. RESULTS: One thousand six hundred fifty-five patients were included in the study. Nine hundred thirty-five (56.5%) were men and 720 (43.5%) women. The mean age was 57.3±14.9 and the mean follow-up time was 15.4 months. Fifty-three percent patients had arterial hypertension, 20% dyslipidemia, 12% diabetes mellitus, 8% smoking habit, 19% personal history of ischemic heart disease, 5% COPD, 8% bronchial asthma, and 8% atrial fibrillation. In almost all the variables studied in PE, including the appearance of ventricular arrhythmias, no significant differences were found, neither by age nor sex, except for the existence of a very slight decrease in exercise capacity with mask use in older patients (>65years). CONCLUSIONS: The use of surgical or FFP2 face masks during the TMT did not affect functional capacity, blood pressure, heart rate, or increased ventricular arrhythmias.

Impact of face masks during the treadmill exercise tests

Introduction and objective There is little literature on the use of face masks in a treadmill test (TMT) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study is to analyse the impact of face masks during a TMT performed during the pre-pandemic (without face mask) and post-pandemic (with face mask) era. Methods Retrospective observational unicentric study of patients undergoing TMT. The inclusion criterion were being over 16 years old and having performed at least one TMT in the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic period. Results One thousand six hundred fifty-five patients were included in the study. 935 (56.5%) were men and 720 (43.5%) women. The mean age was 57.3 ± 14.9 and the mean follow-up time was 15.4 months. 53% patients had arterial hypertension, 20% dyslipidemia, 12% diabetes mellitus, 8% smoking habit, 19% personal history of ischemic heart disease, 5% COPD, 8% bronchial asthma, and 8% atrial fibrillation. In almost all the variables studied in PE, including the appearance of ventricular arrhythmias, no significant differences were found, neither by age nor sex, except for the existence of a very slight decrease in exercise capacity with mask use in older patients (>65 years). Conclusions The use of surgical or FFP2 face masks during the TMT did not affect functional capacity, blood pressure, heart rate, or increased ventricular arrhythmias. Resumen Introducción y objetivos Existe poca literatura sobre el uso de la mascarilla en la realización de una prueba de esfuerzo (PE) durante la pandemia de COVID-19.El objetivo de este estudio es analizar el impacto del uso de la mascarilla durante la realización de una PE en un grupo de pacientes que han realizado al menos una PE con y sin mascarilla. Metodos Estudio observacional retrospectivo unicéntrico de pacientes sometidos a una PE con tapiz rodante. El criterio de inclusión fue tener más de 16 años y haber realizado al menos una PE en época prepandemia (sin mascarilla) y postpandemia (con mascarilla). Resultados Un total de 1655 pacientes fueron incluidos en el estudio. 935 (56.5%) eran varones y 720 (43.5%) mujeres. La edad media fue de 57.3 ± 14.9 y el tiempo medio de seguimiento fue de 15,4 meses. 53% pacientes presentaron antecedentes personales de hipertensión arterial, 20% dislipemia, 12% diabetes mellitus, 8% hábito tabáquico, 19% cardiopatía isquémica, 5% EPOC, 8% asma bronquial y 8% fibrilación auricular. En la casi totalidad de las variables estudiadas en la PE, incluida la aparición de arritmias ventriculares, no se evidenciaron diferencias significativas, ni por edad ni sexo, salvo la existencia de una muy leve disminución en la capacidad de ejercicio con el uso de mascarilla en los pacientes de mayor edad (>65 años). Conclusiones El uso de mascarillas quirúrgicas o FFP2 durante la PE no afectó a la capacidad funcional, la tensión arterial, la frecuencia cardiaca ni incrementó las arritmias ventriculares.

Physical fitness and habitual physical activity in children with cystic fibrosis - do they improve with elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor therapy?

Objectives: The aim of this ongoing longitudinal study is to examine the effects of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ELX/TEZ/IVA) on aspects of physical fitness (PF, strength endurance, explosive power, coordination under time pressure, coordination for the precision aspect, trunk flexibility, peak workload, habitual physical activity (HPA, steps/day, intensity), and zscores of FEV1 and BMI in children with cystic fibrosis (CF)). All children have been receiving ELX/TEZ/IVA for 19.2 ± 10.4 (11–33) months. Methods: Six children with CF agreed to participate (3f/3 m) mean age 13 ± 4yrs (9–17 yrs), FEV1 z-score − 1.017 ± 1.817 (-3.2–0.8). PFwas assessed using 5 test items at baseline and 4.51 ± 0.98 years later;strength endurance (PU push-ups, SU sit-ups), explosive power (SLJ standing long jump), coordination under time pressure (JSS jumping side to side), coordination for the precision aspect (BB balancing backward on beams), and trunk flexibility (FB, forward bend). Cycle-ergometry (Godfrey-protocol) was used to determine Wpeak. Lung function was measured by spirometry. Results: Significant improvements were seen in test items representing strength endurance (PU, SU) and coordination under time pressure (JSS) (p < .05). Although HPA expressed as steps/day remained the same, thetime of moderate to vigorous intensity of HPA decreases significantly (p < .05). A slight, not significant, improvement of BMI Z-score was observed (p > .05). No or small changes could be observed for the parameter FEV1 z-score, Wpeak, PF, SLJ, BB and FB (p > 0.05). Conclusion: ELX/TEZ/IVA therapy seems to be a facilitator to increase some aspects of PF. The decrease in intensity of HPA is possibly an effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic that has already been described in healthy and asthmatic children. In this ongoing study, we assume that clearer effects will be shown with a greater number of children included. However, ELX/ TEZ/IVA enhanced muscle strength endurance in children with CF.

ERGOMETRY FOR BOXERS AND CARDIOTRAINING_CIDC IN THE POST COVID-19 ERA

Introduction: Sports ergometry performed on boxers allows the assessment of physiological parameters, used as indicators of physical performance. Objective: Redesign specific ergometric protocols for boxing and apply the CARDIOTRAINING_CIDC software, for the benefit of individualized sports planning. Material and methods: Quasi-experimental study, between April 2020 and April 2021;sample: 14 boxers from the Cuban National Team;Age: 24 to 31 years old, all male. Two types of maximum stress tests on treadmills were carried out: one conventional and the other specific for boxing. Software, CARDIOTARINING_CIDC, an Excel VBA macro, was used to calculate and store heart rate values. Results: The following were recorded in the first and second ergometries: maximum heart rate and its percentage with respect to the estimated one;maximal oxygen consumption (means: 45 and 61.4 mL/kg/min), myocardial oxygen consumption (30.3 mL/ min and 41.8 mL/ min), and metabolic equivalent (means: 12.8 METS and 17.6 METS). Three of these indicators had a statistically significant relationship (p<0.01) in the ergometry designed for the study, compared to the conventional one. Conclusions: The specific ergometry for boxing was more effective in performing maximum cardiopulmonary stress tests.

Sub Maximal Ergospirometry Parameters in Untrained Non-Frail Octogenarian Subjects.

Background and Objectives: The prevalence of chronic diseases increases with age, and in octogenarian elderly, a cardiorespiratory test with gas analysis is more effective in determining the risk of mortality than applying the conventional risk factors. Materials and Methods: 25 untrained non-frail octogenarian subjects (four men) performed a submaximal test with gas analysis, which was stopped after the second ventilatory threshold (VT2) was reached. The variables analyzed were oxygen consumption at the first threshold (VO2 VT1); ventilatory class (VE/VCO2); oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES); cardiorespiratory optimal point (COP); oxygen pulse difference between VT2 and VT1 (diff. VO2/HR VT2-VT1). Results: the variables were classified categorically based on cut-off points present in the literature, where the variable with the highest percentage of altered cases was dif. VO2/HR VT2-VT1 at 48%; followed by VO2 VT1 at 40%, OUES at 36%, COP at 32%, and VE/VCO2 at 24%. Chi-square analysis between the measured parameters defined that normal and altered variables were related to each other, except for the variable VE/VCO2 and OUES. Conclusions: it was found that the main altered variable was the oxygen pulse and the least altered variable was VCO2/VCO2; there was only a statistically significant difference in a pair of OUES vs. VE/VCO2 variables.

Effects of face masks on physical performance, physiological response and subjective respiratory effort during a submaximal bicycle ergometer test

Introduction: Evidence on undesirable side effects of face masks worn during the COVID-19 pandemic is controversial. Materials and Methods: The present study, explores whether wearing a medical face mask (MedMask) affects physical working capacity (PWC) at the heart rate of 130 and 150 beats per minute in comparison to no mask, a filtering face piece mask with exhalation valve class 2 (FFP2exhal), and a cotton fibric mask (community mask). Secondary, physiological and subjective responses were analyzed such as a potential moderating role of subjects’ individual physical fitness level and gender on face mask effects. A submaximal bicycle ergometer protocol was applied in an intra-individual cross-over design using either no mask, a MedMask, FFP2exhal, or a community mask on four days in randomized order. PWC130 and PWC150 were measured as well as transcutaneous carbon dioxide partial pressure, oxygen saturation, breathing rate, blood pressure, perceived respiratory effort and perceived physical exhaustion. Results: Using the MedMask did not lead to a reduction in PWC and a systematic or relevant change in physiological response, neither was this the case when the FFP2exhal or community mask were worn. Perceived respiratory effort was up to one point higher on a zero to ten scale when using face masks p<0.05) compared to the no mask condition. No differences occured in general perceived exertion. Conclusion: These results provide reason to believe that physical performance and physiological responses when wearing face masks are similar to not wearing a face mask, although some more respiratory effort is required.