COVID-19: Analysis of cavitary air inspired through a mask, in competitive adolescent athletes

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Due to the mandatory use of a mask in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the authorization to do outdoor sports in Catalonia, we set out to evaluate the physiological impact of the hypoxia and hypercapnia generated by the mask during aerobic exercise.Methods46 adolescent competitive athletes (35 women, 11 men) were evaluated. Measurements were taken of ambient air, at rest intra-mask, and during a stress test intra-mask. The concentration of O2 and CO2 intra-mask and the O2 Saturation were evaluated.ResultsThe O2 of ambient air in the laboratory 20.9%; Basal intra-mask O2 18.0±0.7% and intra-mask O2 during exercise 17.4±0.6% (p<0.0001). The CO2 was 0.05±0.01% environmental; baseline intra-mask 1.31±0.5%, and during exercise intra-mask 1.76±0.6% (p<0.0001). Baseline O2 saturation with mask was 98.4±0.6% and immediately after exercise was 97.1±2.8% (p<0.03). During the exercise intra-mask, 30% of the young athletes exceeded 2% of CO2 and 22% breathed oxygen with a concentration lower than 17%.ConclusionsThe use of masks generate hypercapnic hypoxia during exercise. One third of the subjects exceed the CO2 threshold of 2%. (AU)