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Prolonged facemask use in the heat worsens dyspnea without compromising motor-cognitive performance

2020

Background: Within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO endorses facemask use tolimit aerosol-spreading of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, concerns have been raised regarding facemask-associated dyspnea, thermal distressand self-reported impairment of cognition. Accordingly, we tested how facemask-use affectsmotor-cognitive performances of relevance for occupational safety. We hypothesized that maskuse would affect cognitively dominated performances and thermal discomfort, but not alterwhole-body thermal balance.Methods: Eight participants completed a facemask and a barefaced (control) trial, ina counterbalanced order, in 40°C and 20% humidity conditions. Motor-cognitive performance,physiological (rectal, mean skin and local facial temperatures) and perceptual (thermal comfortand dyspnea) measures were assessed at baseline and following 45 min of light work (100 W).Results: Perceived dyspnea was aggravated with prolonged facemask use (p = 0.04), resulting in36% greater breathlessness compared to control. However, no other differences were observed inmotor-cognitive performance, physiological strain, or thermal discomfort.Conclusions: Contradicting negative self-reported impacts of facemask-use, only dyspnea wasaggravated in the present study, thereby reinforcing global recommendations of mask use, evenin hot environments. (Funded by: European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovationprogram under the grant agreement No 668786).