The impact of wearing face masks on neural respiratory drive and breathlessness in healthy subjects

ABSTRACT

S99 Table 1SpO2%, sEMGpara%max, respiratory pattern, respiratory rate and Multidimensional Dyspnea Profile scores wearing no mask, a Type IIR surgical face mask and an FFP3 respirator mask. Data are presented as median (interquartile range). * indicates p<0.05 vs ‘no mask’Abbreviations ti/ttot = the ratio of inspiratory time to total breathing cycle time. sEMGpara%max = neutral respiratory drive quantified using second intercostal space electromyography to measure the surface parasternal intercostal muscle electromyogram, normalised to volitional maximum. MDP = Multidimensional Dyspnea Profile. MDP A1 Breathing Discomfort is measured on a 0 – 10 Scale. MDP Immediate Perception Subdomain Score is the sum of the A1 score and five SQ intensities (SQ1 muscle work/effort, SQ2 air hunger, SQ3 chest tightness, SQ4 mental effort, SQ5 breathing a lot). MDP Emotional Response Subdomain Score is the sum of the five A2 (0–10) emotional response scores (E1 depressed, E2 anxious, E3 frustrated, E4 angry, E5 afraid). MDP Total Score is the sum of A1 Breathing Discomfort and intensities for the five SQs and five emotional responsesConclusionsWearing a SM or FFP3 respirator was associated with small increases in NRD, and an increase in respiratory discomfort when wearing a FFP3 compared to the ‘no mask’ condition. SM and FFP3 respirators did not provoke significant emotional distress, suggesting that the increase in NRD reflects an increase in respiratory effort rather than anxiety or fear.