Effect of N-95 Mask on Headache among Healthcare Workers in Phase 2 of COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: During a pandemic, N-95 face masks are the most commonly
used respirators by healthcare workers and the general public. The
sustained wearing of the N-95 mask has led to physical distress and
negative impacts on health, such as dizziness, shortness of breath,
and headache. It is hypothesized that the headache severity of HCWs
who wear the N95 mask for a lengthy period would change over time.
Methodology: Between February and April 2021, the preliminary study
surveyed 112 health care providers according to the inclusion and
exclusion criteria. The survey questionnaire includes four parts: (1)
demographic information; (2) information about N95 use (6 questions);
(3) headache-related information (10 questions); and (4) perceptions
of the effect of face masks on their headache condition.
Results: A total of 112 healthcare workers (HCWs) took part in the study,
including 38 men (33.9%) and 74 women (66.1%) with an average age
of 28 years. N-95-related discomfort was experienced in 87 (77.7%)
HCWs, and 82 (73.2%) had headaches. Only 13 (11.6%) HCWs had a
headache more than three times a week, while 33 (29.5%) had it twice
or more often. The Spearman correlation was used to evaluate the
relationship between headache severity at the beginning and present,
and there is a positive correlation in both stages.
Conclusion: The current study has shown that the frequency and severity
of headaches in healthcare workers has increased significantly after
wearing an N95 facemask in the second wave of the Covid 19 pandemic
that originated in December 2019.

How to cite this article:
Jaleel G, Malhotra D, Khan SA, Khan AR, Parveen
S. Effect of N-95 mask on Headache among
Healthcare Workers in Phase 2 of COVID-19
Pandemic. J Adv Res Med Sci Tech. 2021;8(4):1-6.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2394.6539.202113