Key result
Athletes with persistent symptoms after COVID-19 had significantly lower cardiopulmonary performance, including a 24.63% lower Peak VO2/BM compared to symptom-free athletes.
Why the study?
The relationship between cardiopulmonary performance and persistent post-acute COVID-19 symptoms in athletes, as well as its progression over time, remained unclear.
Cohort (n=60)
Yes
Standardized Mean Difference: 0.476
p-value: p=<0.001
May warrant caution in return-to-sport decisions; hypothesis-generating for recovery protocols in larger trials.
INTRODUCTION: After the acute Sars-CoV-2-infection, some athletes suffer from persistent, performance-impairing symptoms, although the course of the disease is often mild to moderate. The relation between cardiopulmonary performance and persistent symptoms after the acute period is still unclear. In addition, information about the development of this relationship is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of persistent symptoms over time and their association with the performance capability of athletes. METHODS: We conducted two cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) in a three months interval with 60 athletes (age: 35.2±12.1 years, 56.7% male) after infection with Sars-CoV-2 (t0: study inclusion; t1: three months post t0). At each examination, athletes were asked about their persistent symptoms. To evaluate the change of Peak VO2/BM (Body Mass) between the time before infection and the first examination, the VO2/BM (predVO2) before infection was predicted based on anthropometric data and exercise history of the athletes. For data analysis, athletes were grouped according to their symptom status (symptom-free, SF; persistent symptoms, PS) and its progression from the first to the second examination 1) SF-SF, 2) PS-SF and 3) PS-PS. RESULTS: Comparing the SF and PS groups at t0, significant differences for Max Power/BM, Max Power/lbm (lean body mass), Peak VO2, Peak VO2/BM, Peak VO2/lbm, Peak VO2/HR, Peak VE, Peak Vt and VE/VCO2-Slope were observed. Regarding the progression over three months, an increase in Max Power/BM was shown in SF-SF and PS-SF (tendency). Max Power/lbm increased in SF-SF and PS-PS (tendency). A decrease of VE/VCO2-Slope in PS-PS was found. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 led to a decline in performance that was greater in PS than in SF. Additionally, PS had decreased ventilatory parameters compared to SF. Furthermore, an improvement over time was observed in some CPET parameters and a partial recovery was observed judging by the decrease in various symptoms.
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Vollrath et al. (2022) conducted a cohort in Post-COVID-19 in athletes (n=60). Persistent symptoms after COVID-19 vs. Symptom-free after COVID-19 was evaluated on Peak VO2/BM (ml/min/kg BM) at study inclusion (t0) (Cohen's d 0.476, p=<0.001). Athletes with persistent symptoms after COVID-19 had significantly lower cardiopulmonary performance, including a 24.63% lower Peak VO2/BM compared to symptom-free athletes.
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