Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread mandates requiring the wearing of face masks, which led to debates on their benefits and possible adverse effects. To that end, the physiological effects at the systemic and at the brain level are of interest. We have investigated the effect of commonly available face masks (FFP2 and surgical) on cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation, particularly microvascular cerebral blood flow (CBF) and blood/tissue oxygen saturation (StO2), measured by transcranial hybrid near-infrared spectroscopies and on systemic physiology in 13 healthy adults (ages: 23 to 33 y). The results indicate small but significant changes in cerebral hemodynamics while wearing a mask. However, these changes are comparable to those of daily life activities. This platform and the protocol provides the basis for large or targeted studies of the effects of mask wearing in different populations and while performing critical tasks.
Highlights
Many governments have mandated the wearing of face masks in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in order to mitigate the acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission
We have investigated the effect of mask wearing (FFP2 [European Union standard, similar to N95 in North America and KN95 in China] versus surgical) on cerebral hemodynamics, blood/tissue oxygenation, and oxygen metabolism as well as the systemic physiology with a multimodal platform of custom near-infrared spectroscopies and commercial physiological monitors in healthy young adults
Small but significant changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood oxygen saturation (StO2) were detected for both mask types: 1) CBF increased by 6.5% for the FFP2 mask and 6.2% for the surgical mask; 2) StO2 increased by 0.9% for the FFP2 mask and 0.9% for the surgical mask; 3) total hemoglobin concentration increased significantly only for the FFP2 mask by 0.9 μM
Summary
Many governments have mandated the wearing of face masks in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in order to mitigate the acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission. Noninvasive functional nearinfrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and functional diffuse correlation spectroscopy (fDCS) use near-infrared light to measure microvascular cerebral hemodynamics without the constraints of the fMRI scanners When combined together, they allow us to relate cerebral blood/tissue oxygen saturation and blood flow to the cerebral oxygen metabolism. The advantage of studying mask effects on brain function in realistic settings merits their uses for a thorough study to look at the physiology in a holistic manner To this end, we have investigated the effect of mask wearing (FFP2 [European Union standard, similar to N95 in North America and KN95 in China] versus surgical) on cerebral hemodynamics, blood/tissue oxygenation, and oxygen metabolism as well as the systemic physiology with a multimodal platform of custom near-infrared spectroscopies and commercial physiological monitors in healthy young adults
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