Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2025
Effects of Surgical Masks on Cardiopulmonary Function in Healthy Subjects
Published on: February 12, 2021
The impact of facemask on patients with COPD: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Xuwen Chen1, Changqing Zhang2, Sani Ibrahim1
1School of Public Health, Center for Laboratory and Simulation Training, Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China.
Background:
Since the emergence of COVID-19, mandatory facemask wearing has been implemented around the world to prevent viral transmission, however, the impact of wearing facemasks on patients with COPD was unclear.
Methods:
The current study undertakes a systematic review and meta-analysis of a comprehensive literature retrieval from six databases, based on the pre-determined eligibility criteria, irrespective of language. The risk of bias was assessed using an established instrument. We primarily focused on analyzing ETCO2, SpO2, and heart and respiratory rates, and also considered the impacts on physiological and exercise performance. A descriptive summary of the data and possible meta-analysis was performed. Forest plots were generated to pool estimates based on each of the study outcomes.
Results:
Of the 3,751 publications considered, six publications were selected for a systematic review and two publications were included for meta-analysis, however, the quality of these six studies was relatively low overall. In the case of inactivity, the facemask wearing COPD cohort had higher respiratory rates than that of the non-facemask wearing cohort (MD = 1.00 and 95% CI 0.47-1.53, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in ETCO2 (MD = 0.10 and 95% CI -1.57-1.78, P > 0.05) and heart rate (MD = 0.40 and 95% CI -3.59-4.39, P > 0.05) nor SpO2 (MD = -0.40 and 95% CI -0.84-0.04, P > 0.05) between the COPD patients with and without facemasks. Furthermore, it was observed that the only significant differences between the COPD patients with and without facemasks undertaking different activities were FEV1 (%) (MD = 3.84 and 95% CI 0.14-7.54, P < 0.05), FEV1/FVC (%) (MD = 3.25 and 95% CI 0.71-5.79, P < 0.05), and blood lactate (MD = -0.90 and 95% CI -1.73 to -0.07, P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Wearing facemasks decreased the exercise performance of patients with COPD, however, it had minimal impact on physiological indexes. Further investigations will be performed on the high-quality data from randomized control studies.
Systematic Review Registration:
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=326265, identifier: CRD42022326265.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
01:26COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids
01:29Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Management
Smoking Cessation
01:20COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
01:27Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
01:30Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Nursing Management
Assessment