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Evaluation of Headache Associated With Personal Protective Equipment During Covid-19 Publisher Pubmed



Jafari E1 ; Togha M1 ; Kazemizadeh H2 ; Haghighi S3 ; Nasergivehchi S4 ; Saatchi M5 ; Ariyanfar S6
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Headache Department, Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Advanced Thoracic Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Ziaeian Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Department of Neurology, Baharloo Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Research Center in Emergency and Disaster Health, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (USWR), Tehran, Iran
  6. 6. Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Brain and Behavior Published:2021


Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has created new conditions for medical staff, forcing them to use personal protective equipment (PPE) for an extended duration of time. Headache is a commonly associated side effect of the use of such equipment among healthcare workers. Method: In this cross-sectional study, 243 frontline healthcare workers at four referral hospitals for COVID-19 were evaluated for the occurrence of headache following the use of PPE and its relationship with blood gas parameters was assessed. Results: The average age of participants was 36 ± 8 years. Of these, 75% were women. The prevalence of headache after the use of masks was 72.4%, with the N95 mask being the most commonly reported cause of headache (41%). Among patients, 25.1% developed external pressure, 22.2% migraine, and 15.2% tension-type headaches. Headache was more common in the female gender. Apart from gender, only increased heart rate was significantly associated with headache due to mask use (p =.03 and.00, respectively). The mean heart rate was 97.7 ± 13.68 in participants with headache compared to 65.8 ± 35.63 in those without headache. No significant relationship was found between headache and venous blood gas parameters, including oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressure. Conclusion: Headache due to PPE is common and can decrease the efficiency of hospital staff performance. Hence, it is necessary to consider this issue among health center personnel and provide modalities to reduce the risk of headache. © 2021 The Authors. Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals LLC
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1. Prevalence of Headaches in Healthcare Workers While Using Personal Protective Equipment During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, BMJ Open (2024)
2. Physical Problems of Prolonged Use of Personal Protective Equipment During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review, Nursing Forum (2022)
3. Effects of the Use of Face Masks on the Vital Signs and Headache of Healthy Healthcare Workers During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study, Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances (2024)
4. Other Primary Headache Disorders: Data From the Head-Mena-A Study in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery (2024)
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