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Effect of wearing an N95 respirator on the internal nasal valve and the association with external nasal anatomy – a cohort study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2022

I O S Leung Open the ORCID record for I O S Leung [Opens in a new window] ,
K C M Lui ,
S K Y Chau ,
V J Abdullah ,
T S C Hui ,
P K M Ku ,
A van Hasselt  and
M C F Tong
I O S Leung*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, United Christian Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
K C M Lui
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, United Christian Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
S K Y Chau
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, United Christian Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
V J Abdullah
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, United Christian Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
T S C Hui
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, United Christian Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
P K M Ku
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, United Christian Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
A van Hasselt
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
M C F Tong
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Iris O S Leung, Department of ENT, United Christian Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong E-mail: dririsleung@gmail.com
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Abstract

Objectives

To determine whether: the N95 respirator affects nasal valve patency; placement on the bony vault improves patency; and external nasal anatomy affects the outcome.

Methods

A prospective study with 50 participants was conducted. Nasal patency was measured by the minimal cross-sectional area via acoustic rhinometry, and using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation survey, before and after wearing the N95 respirator and after adjustment.

Results

The minimal cross-sectional area was narrowed by 27 per cent when wearing the N95 respirator (p < 0.001), and improved by 9.2 per cent after adjustment (p = 0.003). The total Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation score increased from 10.2 to 25.4 after donning the N95 respirator (p < 0.001), and decreased from 25.4 to 15.6 after adjustment (p < 0.001). There was no correlation with external nasal anatomy parameters.

Conclusion

Wearing the N95 respirator causes narrowing of the nasal valve, and adjustment onto the bony vault improves symptoms. The findings were not affected by external nasal anatomy.

Keywords

N95 Respirators
Type
Main Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 136 , Issue 4 , April 2022 , pp. 333 - 340
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED.

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Footnotes

Dr I Leung takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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