Introduction
dyspnoea
CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019
During the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the World Health Organisation as well as various national governments advised citizens to wear face masks in public and at work.Wearing face masks mitigates the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other airborne pathogensThe present study aims to investigate whether surgical masks and FFP2 worn during a short time period in hypobaria equivalent to an altitude of ~3000 m affect gas exchange, tissue oxygenation, perceived discomfort and dyspnoea at rest and during moderate exercise, as well as cognitive performance at rest and body temperature during exercise. We hypothesised that at high-altitude mask wearing may have a significant effect on those physiological parameters, especially in combination with exercise.