Key result
Submaximal exercise heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and perceived exertion decreased significantly over 16 weeks in athletes recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection (p < 0.01).
Why the study?
Higher exercise heart rate and prolonged return-to-sport occur after SARS-CoV-2 infection in athletes, but the cardiovascular response to exercise during recovery is not understood.
How does the cardiovascular response to exercise (HR, SBP, RPE) change over 16 weeks in athletes recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection?
Cohort (n=82)
How does the cardiovascular response to exercise (HR, SBP, RPE) change over 16 weeks in athletes recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection?
p-value: p=<0.01
In athletes recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection, submaximal exercise heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and perceived exertion decrease significantly over 16 weeks, with the steepest decline occurring within the first 30 days.
Supports serial monitoring of submaximal exercise responses in post-SARS-CoV-2 athletes; leaves open optimal return-to-play timing.
Higher exercise heart rate (HR) and prolonged return-to-sport in athletes with SARS-CoV-2 infection are described, but the cardiovascular response to exercise during recovery is not understood. This prospective, cohort, experimental study with repeated measures evaluated the cardiovascular response to exercise over 16 weeks in athletes recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Athletes (n = 82) completed 2–5 repeat assessments at regulated intervals over 16 weeks post-SARS-CoV-2 infection. Data from 287 assessments (submaximal exercise tests; Modified Bruce protocol) are included. HR (bpm), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (mmHg) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) (Borg scale 6–20) were measured. Rates of change in HR, SBP and RPE over time are reported. Submaximal exercise HR, SBP and RPE decreased significantly over 16 weeks (p < 0.01). There was a steeper rate of decline for HR and RPE ≤30 days compared to >30 days after SARS-CoV-2 infection: HR at Stage 3: ≤30 days −0.53 (0.01); >30 days −0.06 (0.02) and Stage 5: ≤30 days −0.77 (0.12); >30 days −0.12 (0.02); RPE at Stage 3: ≤30 days −0.09 (0.02); >30 days −0.01 (0.0002) and Stage 5: ≤30 days −0.13 (0.02); >30 days −0.02 (0.004). The findings provide clinical recommendation for exercise prescription and monitoring RPE in response to exercise post-SARS-CoV-2 infection and contribute to the clinical understanding of recovery which can help manage athlete expectations.
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Kaulback et al. (2023) conducted a cohort in SARS-CoV-2 infection (n=82). Time post-SARS-CoV-2 infection (≤30 days) vs. >30 days post-infection was evaluated on Rates of change in submaximal exercise HR, SBP and RPE over time (p=<0.01). Submaximal exercise heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and perceived exertion decreased significantly over 16 weeks in athletes recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection (p < 0.01).
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