Respiratory consequences of N95-type Mask usage in pregnant healthcare workers—a controlled clinical study

Table 1 Changes in respiratory parameters of pregnant subjects breathing through N95 masks compared to controls breathing ambient air

N95 Mask vs Control	Mean difference	SE (95 % CI)	P value
Pre exercise rest period
VO₂	−0.40	0.30 (−1.02, 0.23)	0.20
VCO₂	−0.04	0.02 (−0.07, −0.003)	0.035
Tidal volume	−0.15	0.04 (−0.23, −0.08)	< 0.001
Breathing frequency	0.31	0.69 (−1.13, 1.75)	0.66
Minute ventilation	−2.23	0.66 (−3.60, −0.85)	0.003
FeO₂	−0.52	0.97 (−0.79, −0.25)	0.001
FeCO₂	0.25	0.07 (0.11, 0.40)	0.002
Fi O₂	−0.02	0.07 (−0.16, 0.12)	0.76
Fi CO₂	−0.01	0.01 (−0.03, 0.01)	0.47
Exercise period
VO₂	−1.30	0.47 (−2.3, −0.31)	0.01
VCO₂	−0.10	0.25 (−0.15, −0.05)	0.001
Tidal volume	−0.21	0.05 (−0.32, −0.11)	< 0.001
Breathing frequency	−0.51	0.67 (−1.92, 0.89)	0.45
Minute ventilation	−5.55	0.97 (−7.58, −3.51)	< 0.001
FeO₂	−0.54	0.08 (−0.70, −0.38)	< 0.001
FeCO₂	0.30	0.06 (0.18, 0.42)	< 0.001
Fi O₂	0.02	0.08 (−0.13, 0.17)	0.81
Fi CO₂	0.004	0.01 (−0.23, 0.03)	0.75
Post exercise rest period
VO₂	−0.22	0.21 (−0.67, 0.23)	0.32
VCO₂	−0.01	0.01 (−0.04, 0.01)	0.29
Tidal volume	−0.08	0.03 (−0.14; −0.01)	0.02
Breathing frequency	0.48	0.50 (−0.56, 1.53)	0.34
Minute ventilation	−1.10	0.47 (−2.10, −0.11)	0.031
FeO₂	−0.30	0.09 (−0.49, −0.11)	0.004
FeCO₂	0.19	0.05 (0.09, 0.29)	0.001
Fi O₂	−0.03	0.09 (−0.2, 0.16)	0.77
Fi CO₂	0.00	0.02 (−0.03, 0.03)	0.99

ISSN: 2047-2994