Evaluation of Oxygen Consumption at Maximal Workload in Cases of Post-Covid-19 Syndrome.

Abstract: Objective: Oxygen consumption at maximal workload (VO2 max) is one of the important physiological criteria of endurance that has been used for many years and expresses aerobic capacity. In Post-Covid-19 Syndrome, some complaints persist for at least 12 weeks after the acute phase of SARS-CoV2 disease has passed. By comparing VO2max values and heart rate index values, it is aimed to verify whether aerobic capacity is affected in PCS. Methods: Between January and March 2021, 27 patients who were sent to scintigraphy for the evaluation of myocardial perfusion in terms of coronary artery disease due to chest pain and shortness of breath were included in the study. 11 of the patients were female. Treadmill exercise was applied to our patients by the Bruce Protocol procedure. All of our patients achieved 100% of the cardiac rate calculated with the 220-age formula. Our patients’ VO2max and HRI values before Covid-19 infection and after Post-Covid-19 syndrome diagnosis were compared. Results: Eleven (40.7%) of the cases were female. The median age of the patients was 53. The VO2max and HRI values calculated before the Covid-19 infection in our patients with PCS were higher than the later calculations. VO2max and HRI values were significantly decreased in patients who had Covid-19 infection and whose complaints were prolonged after the end of the acute phase. According to our findings, aerobic capacity decreased in our PCS patients. Conclusion: Complaints of PCS are accompanied by a decrease in aerobic capacity. Identifying the cause of the symptoms will enable us to develop new methods of prevention and treatment. VO2max and HRI values can be used in patient follow-up in PCS. Prospective studies are needed on this subject.