Symptomatic COVID-19 in elite athletes resulted in a median time loss of 18 days, significantly longer than the 6 days observed for historical non-COVID respiratory illnesses (p<0.001).
Observational (n=147)
Yes
Does symptomatic COVID-19 illness prolong symptom duration and time loss from sport compared to historical non-COVID respiratory illnesses in elite athletes?
COVID-19 in elite athletes causes significantly longer time loss from sport compared to historical respiratory illnesses, particularly when lower respiratory symptoms are present.
Absolute Event Rate: 18% vs 6%
p-value: p=<0.001
OBJECTIVES: To report COVID-19 illness pattern, symptom duration and time loss in UK elite athletes. METHODS: Observational, clinical and database review of athletes with symptomatic COVID-19 illness managed within the UK Sports Institutes. Athletes were classified as confirmed (positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR or antibody tests) or probable (consistent clinical features) COVID-19. Clinical presentation was characterised by the predominant symptom focus (eg, upper or lower respiratory illness). Time loss was defined as days unavailable for full sport participation and comparison was made with a 2016-2019 respiratory illness dataset from the same surveillance system. RESULTS: Between 24 February 2020 and 18 January 2021, 147 athletes (25 Paralympic (17%)) with mean (SD) age 24.7 (5.2) years, 37% female, were diagnosed with COVID-19 (76 probable, 71 confirmed). Fatigue was the most prevalent symptom (57%), followed by dry cough (50%) and headache (46%). The median (IQR) symptom duration was 10 (6-17) days but 14% reported symptoms >28 days. Median time loss was 18 (12-30) days, with 27% not fully available >28 days from initial date of infection. This was greater than our historical non-COVID respiratory illness comparator; 6 days, 0-7 days (p<0.001) and 4% unavailable at 28 days. A lower respiratory phenotype (ie, including dyspnoea±chest pain±cough±fever) was present in 18% and associated with a higher relative risk of prolonged symptoms risk ratio 3.0 (95% CI: 1.4 to 6.5) and time loss 2.1 (95% CI: 1.2 to 3.5). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, COVID-19 largely resulted in a mild, self-limiting illness. The presence of lower respiratory tract features was associated with prolonged illness and a delayed return to sport.
Hull et al. (Mon,) conducted a observational in COVID-19 (n=147). COVID-19 illness vs. Historical non-COVID respiratory illness (2016-2019) was evaluated on Median time loss (days unavailable for full sport participation) (p=<0.001). Symptomatic COVID-19 in elite athletes resulted in a median time loss of 18 days, significantly longer than the 6 days observed for historical non-COVID respiratory illnesses (p<0.001).