BLUE

Mark Ungrin

@mark-ungrin.bsky.social

Parent. Interdisciplinary biomedical researcher. Hardline scientist. PhD (Medical Biophysics, Cellular & Molecular Biology). Faculty. New platforms and real-world impact, emphasis on scientific rigour, reproducibility and efficiency. Diverse interests.

201 followers67 following32 posts

MUmark-ungrin.bsky.socialJul 9, 2024 10:01pm

Just updated our preprint assessing the 2022 study that claimed medical masks to be noninferior to N95s for COVID. In addition to issues identified previously, a closer examination of the data revealed unexpected patterns unlikely to occur in nature: osf.io/preprints/me...

Abstract
Background
A previously published study is cited as evidence that medical masks (MM) are noninferior to N95 respirators (N95) in the prevention of COVID infections. As COVID is transmitted via infectious aerosols generated during coughing as well as routine activities such as breathing and speaking, and N95s (in contrast to MM) are designed, validated and specified in national standards to provide protection against such hazards, we re-analysed the published data to resolve this unexpected result.
Methods
Study data was extracted from the publication, and analyses pre-specified in the original study protocol but omitted from the publication were carried out. Anomalies identified in the process were subject to additional analyses for statistical significance.
Results
Prespecified analyses reverse the reported outcome, which is the product of multiple alterations to the trial that were not introduced into the registry until after publication. Methodological shortcomings include

MUmark-ungrin.bsky.socialJul 9, 2024 10:05pm

A big thanks to co-authors, @sameo416.bsky.social @juliamwright.bsky.social @jmcrookston.bsky.social @dfisman.bsky.social and Corinna Nielson.

Mark Ungrin

@mark-ungrin.bsky.social

201 followers67 following32 posts