Adverse effects associated with the use of N95 mask among health‑care workers at the COVID‑19 care units: A cross‑sectional study in Sulaimani city, Iraq
نویسندگان
1 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
2 Department of Periodontics, Orthodontics and Prevention Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
3 Department of Emergency Medicine, Shar Teaching Hospital, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
4 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Al‑Kindy Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq
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doi
چکیده
BACKGROUND: Health‑care workers have to use the N95 mask as a part of the protection kit duringthe COVID‑19 pandemic. The adverse effects of such practice are not fully elucidated. The study aimsto evaluate negative impacts of N95 face masks on health‑care personnel at COVID‑19 care units.MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty‑two health‑care workers (aged 20–58 years)from various health‑care settings in Sulaimani, Iraq, from January to August 2020, were enrolled inthis prospective, cross‑sectional study. The physiological variables (blood pressure, heart rate, andoxygen saturation) were recorded before putting on the N95 mask and postremoval of the mask. Theincidence of adverse effects such as headache, difficulty breathing, redness, irritation, and dizzinesswere also reported as a number and percent at the end of the work shift.RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the physiological parameters afterremoval of the mask compared with baseline. Only diastolic pressure was significantly lower in thoseworking >6 h when compared to those working 1–6 h. The changes in physiological markers werepoorly and nonsignificantly associated with the duration of wearing the mask. Moreover, 67.2%–70.5%of the participants complain of headaches and breathing difficulties, while 45.9%–51.6% reportedsigns of itching, redness, and irritation. However, health‑care workers who put on the face mask >6 hshowed signs of headache, breathing difficulties, and itching at the exposed areas higher than thoseworking for 1–6 h.CONCLUSION: N95 mask negatively impacts the physiological variables of health‑care providers.The adverse effects may lead to excessive exhaustion after long shifts in the intensive care unitduring treatment of COVID‑19 patients.
