Response to Petru et al.
Sirs:
VO2RCP and relVO2max at RCP were significantly reduced for ffpm. Please find the detailed values below. The method for the quantification of ten domains of comfort/discomfort of wearing a mask (humidity, heat, breathing resistance, itchiness, tightness, saltiness, feeling unfit, odor, fatigue, and overall discomfort) is described in the manuscript.
The clear results of our study show that ventilation, cardiopulmonary exercise capacity, and comfort are reduced by surgical masks and highly impaired by FFP2/N95 face masks in healthy individuals. Future/ongoing studies need to address the effects during long-term sub-maximal physical activity and in patients with pulmonary and/or cardiac diseases.
We strongly believe that medical recommendations need to be based on evidence with regard to risk and benefit. As an example, the knowledge about adverse effects associated with many live-saving medications (e.g., immunosuppressant drugs) is a prerequisite for adequate treatment recommendations and long-term success.
VO 2RCP
nm: 2468 ± 514 ml/min
sm: 2401 ± 662 ml/min
ffpm: 2242 ± 535 ml/min
one-way ANOVA p = 0.044
nm vs. smp = 0.707
nm vs. ffpmp = 0.017
relVO 2 max at RCP
nm: 75.5 ± 5.5%
sm: 72.8 ± 7.8%
ffpm: 68.5 ± 7.2%
one-way ANOVA p = 0.034
nm vs. sm p = 0.486
nm vs. ffpm p = 0.017
Sven Fikenzer and Ulrich Laufs.
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25 June 2021
A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-021-01896-x
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The original online version of this article was revised due to a retrospective Open Access order.
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Fikenzer, S., Laufs, U. Response to Letter to the editors referring to Fikenzer, S., Uhe, T., Lavall, D., Rudolph, U., Falz, R., Busse, M., Hepp, P., & Laufs, U. (2020). Effects of surgical and FFP2/N95 face masks on cardiopulmonary exercise capacity. Clinical research in cardiology: official journal of the German Cardiac Society, 1–9. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-020-01704-y. Clin Res Cardiol 109, 1600 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-020-01736-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-020-01736-4