Key result
SARS-CoV-2 infection in male elite athletes was associated with a significant cross-over interaction effect on augmentation index normalized to a heart rate of 75 bpm (p=0.0018), suggesting mild vascular impairment.
Why the study?
Vascular impairment has been reported in young adults recovering from COVID-19, but the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on vascular function in elite athletes was unknown.
Does SARS-CoV-2 infection impair vascular function in healthy male elite athletes?
Cohort (n=30)
No
Does SARS-CoV-2 infection impair vascular function in healthy male elite athletes?
p-value: p=0.0018
SARS-CoV-2 infection in elite male athletes is associated with subclinical vascular alterations, specifically an increased augmentation index, suggesting mild vascular impairment despite excellent baseline fitness.
May signal lingering vascular impairment in elite athletes post-COVID; hypothesis-generating, needs larger studies before screening or management changes.
SARS-CoV-2 may affect the cardiovascular system and vascular impairment has been reported in healthy young adults recovering from COVID-19. However, the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the vascular function of elite athletes is unknown. We examined 30 healthy male elite athletes (age 25.8 ± 4.6 years) pre-season and at a 6-month follow-up (182 ± 10 days). Vascular function and central blood pressure were calculated using transfer function-based analysis of peripheral arterial waveforms obtained by oscillometry. We performed a two-way repeated-measures ANOVA on the biomarker data, with SARS-CoV-2 status as the between-groups factor and time as the within-groups factor. Subjects who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were studied 18 ± 4 days after their positive testing date at follow-up. Of 30 athletes, 15 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 after the first examination and prior to the follow-up. None had severe COVID-19 or reported any persisting symptoms. The results of the two-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed that there was no significant main effect of COVID-19 on any of the investigated biomarkers. However, there was a significant interaction between the effects of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and time on augmentation index (Aix) (p = 0.006) and augmentation index normalized to a heart rate of 75 beats per minute (Aix@75), (p = 0.0018). The observation of an interaction effect on Aix and Aix@75 in the absence of any main effect indicates a cross-over interaction. Significant vascular alterations in male elite athletes recovering from COVID-19 were observed that suggest vascular impairment. Whether these alterations affect athletic performance should be evaluated in future studies.
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Bauer et al. (2022) conducted a cohort in SARS-CoV-2 infection (n=30). SARS-CoV-2 infection vs. Uninfected athletes was evaluated on Augmentation index normalized to a heart rate of 75 beats per minute (Aix@75) (p=0.0018). SARS-CoV-2 infection in male elite athletes was associated with a significant cross-over interaction effect on augmentation index normalized to a heart rate of 75 bpm (p=0.0018), suggesting mild vascular impairment.
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