Open AccessAssociation of face mask use with self-reported cardiovascular symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic
Author(s) -
Nicholas Chew,
Raymond Wong,
Andie Hartanto Djohan,
Jinghao Nicholas Ngiam,
Ping Chai,
TiongCheng Yeo,
HuayCheem Tan,
ChingHui Sia
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
singapore medical journal/singapore medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.452
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 2737-5935
pISSN - 0037-5675
DOI - 10.11622/smedj.2021140
Subject(s) - medicine , palpitations , confidence interval , odds ratio , covid-19 , cross sectional study , face masks , pandemic , disease , emergency medicine , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Countries are mandating the use of face masks to stem the spread of COVID-19. Face mask use has been associated with discomfort due to its effects on thermoregulation, breathing and oxygenation. We evaluated the prevalence and severity of self-reported cardiovascular symptoms before and during face mask use. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 1001 participants residing in Singapore, who participated in a self-administered questionnaire between 25th April 2020 to 4th May 2020. Symptom severity before and during mask use and health-seeking behaviour information were collected. The study outcome was the self-reported worsening of cardiovascular symptoms, and its association with the type of mask worn, duration of mask worn per day, and intensity of physical activities during mask use. Results: The commonest symptom reported during mask use was dyspnoea. Independent predictors for self-reported cardiovascular symptoms during mask use were moderate–high physical activity during mask use (OR 1.634, 95% CI 1.176–2.270, p=0.003), duration of mask use ≥3 hours (OR 1.672, 95% CI 1.189–2.352, p=0.003) and the type of mask used, after adjusting for age, sex, healthcare-based worker status and presence of comorbidities. N95 mask was associated with worse symptoms when compared to surgical mask. Participants with ≥3 worsening symptoms, or worsening dyspnoea, palpitations, fatigue and dizziness were more likely to seek medical help. Conclusion: Face mask use is proven to be an effective way in curbing COVID-19 transmission. However, participants in this study had concerns regarding its use and these concerns should be urgently addressed to enable mask-use policies to be enacted.