TY - JOUR
T1 - Characterizing Particulate Generation During Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Classes With Patients Wearing Procedural Masks
AU - Helgeson, Scott A.
AU - Taylor, Bryan J.
AU - Lim, Kaiser G.
AU - Lee, Augustine S.
AU - Niven, Alexander S.
AU - Patel, Neal M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 American College of Chest Physicians
PY - 2021/8
Y1 - 2021/8
N2 - Background: The clinical benefits of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation are extensive, including improvements in health-related quality of life, emotional condition, physical function, and overall mortality. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a negative impact on center-based cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. Justifiable concern exists that the exercise-related increase in pulmonary ventilation within the rehabilitation classes may lead to the generation of infectious respiratory particles. Research Question: Is cardiopulmonary rehabilitation while wearing a procedural mask a particle-generating procedure? Study Design and Methods: Data were collected prospectively at a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation facility with all patients wearing a procedural mask. Small (0.3-4.9 μm) and large (5-10 μm) particle generation was quantified using a light-scattering particle counter. Data were analyzed by time, exertion level, and number of participants. Results: A total of 24 distinct patients attended two or more of the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation classes tested. Most of the patients were men (n = 16 [67%]) and were in rehabilitation because of cardiac disease. During the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation class, small and large micrometer-size particles increased with increasing class size. In classes with four patients or more, a significant increase was found from ambient levels in both small (four patients, P < .01; and five patients, P < .01) and large (four patients, P < .01; and five patients, P < .01) particle count that peaked at about 35 to 40 min during each class. Interpretation: Using an airborne particle counter, we found significant exercise-related increases in both small and large micrometer-size particle generation during cardiopulmonary rehabilitation classes, with larger class sizes (ie, more patients), despite participants wearing a procedural mask.
AB - Background: The clinical benefits of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation are extensive, including improvements in health-related quality of life, emotional condition, physical function, and overall mortality. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a negative impact on center-based cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. Justifiable concern exists that the exercise-related increase in pulmonary ventilation within the rehabilitation classes may lead to the generation of infectious respiratory particles. Research Question: Is cardiopulmonary rehabilitation while wearing a procedural mask a particle-generating procedure? Study Design and Methods: Data were collected prospectively at a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation facility with all patients wearing a procedural mask. Small (0.3-4.9 μm) and large (5-10 μm) particle generation was quantified using a light-scattering particle counter. Data were analyzed by time, exertion level, and number of participants. Results: A total of 24 distinct patients attended two or more of the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation classes tested. Most of the patients were men (n = 16 [67%]) and were in rehabilitation because of cardiac disease. During the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation class, small and large micrometer-size particles increased with increasing class size. In classes with four patients or more, a significant increase was found from ambient levels in both small (four patients, P < .01; and five patients, P < .01) and large (four patients, P < .01; and five patients, P < .01) particle count that peaked at about 35 to 40 min during each class. Interpretation: Using an airborne particle counter, we found significant exercise-related increases in both small and large micrometer-size particle generation during cardiopulmonary rehabilitation classes, with larger class sizes (ie, more patients), despite participants wearing a procedural mask.
KW - aerosol
KW - cardiopulmonary rehabilitation
KW - coronavirus
KW - particle generation
KW - particle measurement
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U2 - 10.1016/j.chest.2021.02.045
DO - 10.1016/j.chest.2021.02.045
M3 - Article
C2 - 33667490
AN - SCOPUS:85109065061
SN - 0012-3692
VL - 160
SP - 633
EP - 641
JO - Chest
JF - Chest
IS - 2
ER -