Physiological Impact of Surgical Mask and N95 Mask on Obese Operating Room

NCT05950256 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: KYLL-202306-032
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 20
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

During the SARS CoV-2 pandemic, in order to reduce the risk of infection among healthcare workers, healthcare workers are usually required to wear N95 masks for extended periods of time in high-risk environments. The long-term use of masks by medical staff has been proven to be related to various symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, facial skin disease symptoms, and other occupational disturbances . Our previous research found that among healthy anesthesiologists with normal weight, wearing a Surgical mask for more than 2h can significantly reduce peripheral blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and increase respiratory rate (RR). Rebmann et al. investigated the physiological effects of N95 masks on healthcare workers, and the results showed a statistically significant increase in end-tidal CO2 pressure （PetCO2）among 10 intensive care unit nurses who used N95 masks on a 12 hour shift. Recently, it has been confirmed that prolonged use of N95 masks can cause changes in gas exchange, including a decrease in plasma pH and venous partial pressure of oxygen (PvO2), and a slight increase in PetCO2. Obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that poses a risk to health and can cause baseline lung function impairment and decreased immune function. According to the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO), people with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m2 are classified as obese. Research shows that obese patients are the population with the highest risk of SARS CoV-2 infection related incidence rate and mortality. Research has shown that healthcare workers who work long hours are more likely to become obese due to changes in body regulation, metabolism, and stress. Long term use of N95 masks by medical staff may lead to a certain degree of insufficient ventilation and/or CO2 re breathing. Obesity itself has a significant impact on the heart and lungs, but the potential physiological effects of long-term wearing of N95 masks on obese healthcare workers have not been studied. The purpose of our study is to determine the abnormal gas exchange and physiological changes of obese doctors and nurses in the operating room who wear Surgical mask and N95 mask for 4 hours.

Conditions

Obesity

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• PvCO2

  PvCO2 values in venous blood gas after wearing surgical masks or N95 masks for 4 hours

  4 hours

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2)

  4 hours

• pulse rate (PR)

  4 hours

• PetCO2

  4 hours

• Visual analog scale (VAS) scores

  4 hours

• PvCO2

  0 hours

Study Arms (2)

N95 mask group

EXPERIMENTAL

Continuously wearing N95 mask for 4 hours

Device: N95 mask and surgical mask

Surgical mask group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Continuously wearing surgical mask for 4 hours

Device: N95 mask and surgical mask

Interventions

N95 mask and surgical mask DEVICE

Twenty participants were randomly assigned to the N95 mask group (n=10 ) and the Surgical mask group (n=10 ). The N95 mask group and the Surgical mask group were used in two stages alternately. When the first round of the test was completed and after a 24-hour washing out period, the participants of the Surgical mask group and the N95 respirator group were exchanged for the second round of the test.

N95 mask group; Surgical mask group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Exclude criteria： recent acute or chronic respiratory disease, recent history of headache and dizziness, pregnancy or lactation, rhinitis, Nasal polyp or poor breathing, facial skin inflammation and skin laxity.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Qilu Hospital of Shandong University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Qilu Hospital of Shandong University

Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China

Location

Related Publications (11)

• Luo C, Yao L, Zhang L, Yao M, Chen X, Wang Q, Shen H. Possible Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in a Public Bath Center in Huai'an, Jiangsu Province, China. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Mar 2;3(3):e204583. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.4583. Erratum In: JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Aug 3;3(8):e2017413. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.17413.

  PMID: 32227177 RESULT

• O'Hara LM, Thom KA, Preas MA. Update to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection (2017): A summary, review, and strategies for implementation. Am J Infect Control. 2018 Jun;46(6):602-609. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2018.01.018. Epub 2018 Mar 7.

  PMID: 29525367 RESULT

• Scheid JL, Lupien SP, Ford GS, West SL. Commentary: Physiological and Psychological Impact of Face Mask Usage during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Sep 12;17(18):6655. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17186655.

  PMID: 32932652 RESULT

• Yang S, Fang C, Liu X, Liu Y, Huang S, Wang R, Qi F. Surgical Masks Affect the Peripheral Oxygen Saturation and Respiratory Rate of Anesthesiologists. Front Med (Lausanne). 2022 Apr 14;9:844710. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.844710. eCollection 2022.

  PMID: 35492371 RESULT

• Rebmann T, Carrico R, Wang J. Physiologic and other effects and compliance with long-term respirator use among medical intensive care unit nurses. Am J Infect Control. 2013 Dec;41(12):1218-23. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2013.02.017. Epub 2013 Jun 12.

  PMID: 23768438 RESULT

• Shechtman L, Ben-Haim G, Ben-Zvi I, Steel L, Ironi A, Huszti E, Chatterji S, Levy L. Physiological Effects of Wearing N95 Respirator on Medical Staff During Prolong Work Hours in Covid-19 Departments. J Occup Environ Med. 2022 Jun 1;64(6):e378-e380. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002542. Epub 2022 May 4.

  PMID: 35543650 RESULT

• Zhou Y, Chi J, Lv W, Wang Y. Obesity and diabetes as high-risk factors for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2021 Feb;37(2):e3377. doi: 10.1002/dmrr.3377. Epub 2020 Jul 20.

  PMID: 32588943 RESULT

• Luckhaupt SE, Cohen MA, Li J, Calvert GM. Prevalence of obesity among U.S. workers and associations with occupational factors. Am J Prev Med. 2014 Mar;46(3):237-48. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2013.11.002.

  PMID: 24512862 RESULT

• Sharma SV, Upadhyaya M, Karhade M, Baun WB, Perkison WB, Pompeii LA, Brown HS, Hoelscher DM. Are Hospital Workers Healthy?: A Study of Cardiometabolic, Behavioral, and Psychosocial Factors Associated With Obesity Among Hospital Workers. J Occup Environ Med. 2016 Dec;58(12):1231-1238. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000895.

  PMID: 27930484 RESULT

• Dixon AE, Peters U. The effect of obesity on lung function. Expert Rev Respir Med. 2018 Sep;12(9):755-767. doi: 10.1080/17476348.2018.1506331. Epub 2018 Aug 14.

  PMID: 30056777 RESULT

• Fang C, Ba Y, Gao Y, Liu Y, Yang S. Physiological impact of surgical masks and N95 masks on obese operating room staff. Sci Rep. 2025 Feb 24;15(1):6533. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-91578-9.

  PMID: 39994350 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Obesity

Interventions

N95 Respirators

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Overweight; Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Surgical Attire; Equipment and Supplies, Hospital; Equipment and Supplies; Respiratory Protective Devices; Personal Protective Equipment; Protective Devices; Surgical Equipment; Manufactured Materials; Technology, Industry, and Agriculture

Study Officials

• Shaozhong Yang, Doctor

  Qilu Hospital of Shandong University

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 10, 2023
• First Posted: July 18, 2023
• Study Start: July 19, 2023
• Primary Completion: September 30, 2023
• Study Completion: January 30, 2024
• Last Updated: February 20, 2024

Record last verified: 2023-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR
• Time Frame: April 2024- December 2024
• Access Criteria: Network access or email

Locations

CN (1)