Respiratory consequences of N95-type Mask usage in pregnant healthcare workers—a controlled clinical study

Tong, Pearl Shuang Ye; Kale, Anita Sugam; Ng, Kailyn; Loke, Amelia Peiwen; Choolani, Mahesh Arjandas; Lim, Chin Leong; Chan, Yiong Huak; Chong, Yap Seng; Tambyah, Paul Anantharajah; Yong, Eu-Leong

Little is known about the effects of N95-masks on the respiratory function of pregnant healthcare workers, who can be subjected to prolonged usage of FFR because of their vulnerability to complications from influenza, varicella, and other pathogens transmitted via the respiratory tract [11] . It is also known that pregnant women have a significantly greater respiratory burden due to factors such as increased oxygen (O 2 ) demand, increased nasal airway resistance, decreased functional residual capacity due to diaphragmatic splinting; all these contributing to the "physiologic" dyspnea of pregnancy [12] . There are also robust data linking respiratory compromise and adverse perinatal outcomes in women who have chronic respiratory conditions, from large scale studies on women with conditions such as asthma and obstructive sleep apnea. These outcomes include preterm labour, impaired fetal growth, and pre-eclampsia [13, 14] .