PPE respirator masks often fail to fit women and Asian healthcare workers

Published in Anaesthesia (a journal of the Association of Anaesthetists), the study suggests masks do not always fit correctly with hospitals often lacking time and financial resources to ensure every healthcare worker has a mask that fits correctly.

The review found initial fit-pass rates for females compared with males were 85% and 95%, respectively.

Higher initial fit-pass rates were found in Caucasians (90%) compared with Asians (84%). Particularly low initial fit-pass rates were reported in Asian females, with a reported mean of 60%.

The authors explain that correct respirator fit appears far more important for airborne protection than the filtration capacity of the material. The shape and size of the respirator in relation to the wearer's facial anthropomorphic dimensions are major factors in terms of quality of fit (meaning the absence of leak).