The Effect of Different Masks Used by Pregnant Women on Vital Signs and Non-Stress Test During the COVID-19: Randomized Clinical Study

Abstract

In the during coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), the unprecedented increase in the use of face masks and their variants has been associated with the emergence of several concerns on human health regarding their safety and impact on physiology. This study was conducted to examine the effects of different masks used by pregnant women on vital signs and non-stress test (NST) during the COVID-19. Material and Methods: The study consisted of a single surgical mask group (n=30), double surgical mask group (n=30), and N95 mask group (n=31). Masks were given to the resting pregnant women 30 minutes (min) before the NST, and they were provided to wear masks. Vital signs of the pregnant women were measured 30 min after wearing the mask, just before and after the NST, and the images of the NST traces were taken. Results: After NST, the systolic blood pressure of the double surgical mask group was lower than the other groups. Diastolic blood pressure before and after NST was lower in the double surgical mask group than in the N95 mask group. The respiratory rate decreased significantly in the N95 mask group (p<0.05). Before and after NST, SpO2 and pulse were similar between and within the groups. The groups were similar in terms of fetal heart rate, acceleration, variability, contraction, deceleration, reactivity/non-reactivity (p>0.05). Conclusion: It is difficult to say that statistically significant results obtained with vital signs were clinically significant. Besides, the use of different masks had no effect on the NST parameters.