Exercise-induced expression of SARS-CoV-2 entry receptors: impact of mask modality, sex, and exercise intensity.

Background: Wearing a facemask affects physiological responses to exercise. We explored how exercising with a facemask affects the expression of SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 [ACE2]) and some associated genes (angiotensin type-1 receptors [AT1R]; Mas receptor [MasR]; hypoxia-inducible factor 1α [HIF-1α]; endothelial nitric oxide synthase [eNOS]) among healthy males and females.

Methods: One hundred forty-four apparently healthy individuals (72 females; age: 30±6) were allocated to three mask groups of 48 (N95, Surgical, No Mask) with two exercise subgroups for each mask for both sexes.

Does wearing a mask while exercising amid COVID-19 pandemic affect hemodynamic and hematologic function among healthy individuals? Implications of mask modality, sex, and exercise intensity.

Objectives: We investigated how wearing a mask - and its modality (surgical vs. N95) - affect hemodynamic and hematologic function in males and females across two exercise intensities (submaximal (SUB) and maximal (MAX)).

Methods: 144 individuals participated in the present study and were randomly allocated to three mask groups of 48 (N95, SURGICAL, and NO MASK) with two exercise subgroups for each mask group (MAX, = 24; SUB, = 24) for both sexes.