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Session: Respiration & Pregnancy
Session starts: Thursday 26 January, 10:30
Presentation starts: 11:15
Room: Room 531

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Charissa Roossien (Dr. Ir.)
Bart Verkerke (Prof. Dr. Ir.)
Michiel Reneman (Prof. Dr.)

Abstract:
A portable headset has been developed to analyze breathing gases and establish the energetic workload of physically active workers more comfortably in comparison to the current golden standard, a mouth mask. This proof-of-concept study aimed to investigate the validity of the portable headset compared to (1) the medical indirect calorimetry method using a mouth mask and (2) oxygen consumption (VO2) estimation based on heart rate, and to explore the user experience of the developed headset system. Fifteen subjects performed a submaximal cycling test twice, once with the headset, and once with the two references systems, a mouth mask and heartrate monitor. Related to indirect calorimetry, good (ICC≥0.72) correlations were observed for the VO2, carbon dioxide production (VCO2) and exhaled volume (Ve). The headset tended to underestimate VO2, VCO2 and Ve at low intensities and to overestimate it at higher intensities. The headset (ICC=0.39) was more valid for estimating VO2 than estimates based on heart rate (ICC=0.11). The subjects preferred the headset over the mouth mask because it was more comfortable, did not hinder communication and had lower breathing resistance. The headset appears to be useable for monitoring the energetic workloads of physically active workers, being more valid than heart rate monitoring and more practical than indirect calorimetry with a mouth mask. The present version is not yet completely valid, but its potential is supported and indicates opportunities for further development and professionalization. This professionalization is on-going in collaboration with industry, aiming to make this headset commercially available. Another design step and further validation studies are needed before implementation in the workplace. There is increasing interest in this breathing-gas analyzing headset to objectively monitor physiological responses of individuals. This system is likely to be of interest as a low-level, comfortable and easy-to-use device for monitoring the physical fitness of subjects in multiple settings, including working, (remote) (occupational) healthcare, rehabilitation and sports settings. It can be carried out in users’ actual environment over longer periods of time. This headset could fill a gap in the existing range of instruments for measuring energy consumption.