Year: 2023 | Month: November | Volume: 13 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 7-11
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20231102
The Effect of N-95 Mask on PEFR, Blood Pressure and 6-Minute Walk Distance among Geriatrics
Payal Gupta1, Gagan Gupta1, Viral Pandya2, Priyanka Parmar2, Dhruvi Raval3
1Associate Professor,2Assistant Professor, 3MPT student,
Dept. of Physiotherapy, Ananya College of Physiotherapy, Kalol, Gujarat, India
Corresponding Author: Payal Gupta
ABSTRACT
Background and Objective: Corona virus also called COVID -19 first appeared in Wuhan, China and then after, it spread to the whole world. This pandemic impacted everybody in enormous ways. As a protective measure the use of face mask became mandatory at that time which in turn influenced people’s life especially that of geriatrics. As with the advancing age, there is reduction in the functional efficiency of multiple systems including cardio-respiratory system and mask may further compromise the functioning of CV system by causing hindrance in the gaseous exchange. Objective of this study was to observe the effect of mask on cardio-respiratory functional status among geriatrics.
Material and Methodology: It was an observational study; 80 subjects were taken for the study that fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Each subject performed the 6MWTs, first without mask and then with mask with 30 minutes rest between the two tests. PEFR, SBP, DBP were taken before and after 6MWTs.
Result: Result was analyzed with SPSS 20. Mann-Whitney U Test was used to compare the outcome measures between the two situations (Without mask and with mask). The result indicates significant difference in SBP and DBP values with mask when compared to no mask. Whereas no significant difference found in PEFR values and 6MWT distance with mask when compared to no mask.
Conclusion: It has been found that the N-95 mask increases blood pressure but it does not have any effect on PEFR and 6 MWD among geriatric population.
Key words: N-95 Mask, Blood pressure, peak expiratory flow rate, 6-minute Walk Distance, Geriatrics