Impact of wearing different facial masks on respiratory symptoms, oxygen saturation, and functional capacity during six-minute walk test (6MWT) in healthy young adults

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> During the COVID-19 pandemic and high fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air, wearing a mask was recommended. However, the impact of wearing different masks on respiratory symptoms, oxygen saturation (SpO₂), and functional capacity when performing a submaximal functional activity (6MWT) has not been explored. <b>Aim:</b> To compare the impact of different masks wearing during 6MWT on respiratory symptoms, SpO₂, and functional capacity. <b>Methods:</b> 30 healthy subjects (10 men; age 22±1; FEV₁/FVC 0.90±0.01) performed 4 rounds of 6MWT on 4 consecutive days, wearing different masks [surgical (Medima SK, Thailand); cloth (DIY); N95 (3M Aura^TM1870⁺, USA)] and no mask. Dyspnea, breathing effort, and SpO₂ were recorded. Differences were compared using ANOVA/Kruskal-Wallis. <b>Results:</b> At min6 (Table 1), none of the assessed parameters showed a significant difference between groups except breathing effort (p=0.002). Post hoc test showed that wearing cloth mask and N95 mask significantly increased breathing effort (p=0.001 and p=0.012) compared to no mask. Wearing a cloth mask also significantly increases breathing effort compared to a surgical mask (p=0.012). <b>Conclusion:</b> Wearing different masks performing submaximal functional tasks results in no difference in dyspnea, SpO₂, and functional performance, however, some masks result in more breathing effort.