The effect of mask usage of the health personnel on blood gas analysis and cognitive strengthening during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of lengthy mask use on blood gas values and cognitive functions. Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted in February and March 2022 at Mersin Sehir Training and Research Hospital, Mersin, Turkey, and comprised healthcare professionals of either gender aged 20-60 years working in the 3rd level intensive care unit. Each volunteer was subjected to venous blood gas analysis at the beginning and end of the 8-hour morning shift. Coronavirus disease-2019 status was noted, and further data related to cognitive functions was collected using a 7-item questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. Results: Of the 63 subjects, 43(68.3percent) were women and 20(31.7percent) were men. The overall mean age was 33.53±6.76 years. There were 42(66.7percent) subjects using N95 mask; 27(64.3percent) women and 15(35.7percent) men with mean age 32.38 6.54 years. There were 21(33.3percent) subjects wearing surgical masks; 16(76.2percent) women and 5(23.8percent) men with mean age 35.95 0.76 years. Intergroup comparisons were non-significant for all the markers (p 0.05). Within the N95 mask group, potential of hydrogen and lactate values were significantly different (p 0.05), while in the surgical mask group, potential of hydrogen and partial pressure of oxygen were significantly different (p 0.05). There were 28(66.7percent) subjects in the N95 group who had been affected by coronavirus disease-2019 compared to 16(76.2percent) in the surgical mask group (p 0.05). Subjects in the N95 mask group had significant impaired cognitive functions compared to the surgical mask group (p 0.05). Conclusion: Impairment in cognitive functions in intensive care unit workers using masks could be explained by the development of intermittent long-term moderate hypoxia. Key Words: Masks, Coronavirus, Carbon dioxide, Hypoxia.