Face masks to prevent community transmission of viral respiratory infections: A rapid evidence review using Bayesian analysis
Perski, Olga;
Simons, David;
West, Robert;
Michie, Susan;
(2020)
Face masks to prevent community transmission of viral respiratory infections: A rapid evidence review using Bayesian analysis.
Qeios.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32388/1sc5l4
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Background: Face masks have been proposed as an important way of reducing transmission of viral respiratory infections, including SARS-CoV-2.
Objective: To assess the likelihood that wearing face masks in community settings reduces transmission of viral respiratory infections.
Methods: We conducted a rapid evidence review and used a Bayesian statistical approach to analysing experimental and observational studies conducted in community-dwelling children and adults that assessed the effectiveness of face mask wearing (vs. no face masks) on self-reported, laboratory-confirmed, or clinically diagnosed viral respiratory infections.
Results: Eleven RCTs and 10 observational studies met the inclusion criteria. The calculation of Bayes factors and cumulative posterior odds from the RCTs showed a moderate likelihood of a small effect of wearing surgical face masks in community settings in reducing self-reported influenza-like illness (ILI) (cumulative posterior odds = 3.61). However, the risk of reporting bias was high and evidence of reduction of clinically- or laboratory-confirmed infection was equivocal (cumulative posterior odds = 1.07 and 1.22, respectively). Observational studies yielded evidence of a negative association between face mask wearing and ILI but with high risk of confounding and reporting bias.
Conclusions: Available evidence from RCTs is equivocal as to whether or not wearing face masks in community settings results in a reduction in clinically- or laboratory-confirmed viral respiratory infections. No relevant studies concerned SARS-CoV-2 or were undertaken in community settings in the UK.