Effect of Face Masks on Gas Exchange in Healthy Persons and Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Trends in emergency transportation due to heat illness under the new normal lifestyle in the COVID-19 era, in Japan and 47 prefectures

“…In a nationwide survey conducted by the MHLW on August 12–13, 2020, using a social networking service, 82.5% of the more than 15 million respondents reported that they were thoroughly wearing masks as a COVID-19 countermeasure ( LINE Corporation, 2020 ). Wearing a mask has been found to increase body temperature near the face, and may also make breathing difficult and increase heart and respiratory rates ( Yokobori, 2020 ; Johnson, 2016 ; Samannan et al, 2020 ), and we hypothesize that the habit of wearing masks in the ‘new normal’ may contribute to an increased risk of heat illness in the summer ( NHK, 2020 ). An increase in the number of heat illness-related emergency transferees and visits to medical institutions could place additional burdens on medical institutions dealing with new coronavirus infections.…”

COPD & COVID-19

“…Patients with COPD do not seem to be at greatly increased risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2, possibly reflecting, at least in part, the effect of protective strategies. Most studies of symptomatic people in the community tested for SARS-CoV-2 have not shown chronic respiratory disease as an independent risk factor for testing positive, 7 , 8 although at least one has. 9 Patients with COPD are at a slightly increased risk of hospitalization for COVID-19 but the evidence about the risk of developing severe disease and death are contradictory: COPD has been reported to independently increase the risk of severe disease or death in some series 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 but not all.…”

“…In most cases, a loose face covering, or even a face shield is tolerable and effective, 5 , 6 but wearing a surgical mask does not appear to affect ventilation even in patients with severe airflow limitation. 7 …”

Verwendung von Masken bei Kindern zur Verhinderung der Infektion mit SARS-CoV-2

“…Das Tragen von Masken führt in Abhängigkeit von ihrer Qualität bei gesunden Erwachsenen zu einer leichten Erhöhung des Atemwegswiderstandes und der Atemarbeit, einer geringen Verminderung der Sauerstoffsättigung und einer geringfügigen Erhöhung der Konzentration von Kohlendioxid im Blut (Review bei [12,13]). Alle diese Veränderungen liegen im Bereich der Normalwerte sind also ohne objektivierbare Relevanz für Gesundheit und Leistungsfähigkeit der Betroffenen.…”