Does COVID-19 affect the exercise capacity of non-hospitalized patients?

Abstract

[Abstract] Objective. To determine whether non-hospitalized adults post COVID-19 have impaired exercise capacity.

Design. Retrospective analysis. Setting. Cardiovascular outpatients unit in Instituto Cardiovascular de Rosario, Argentina.

Patients. Eighty non-hospitalized patients post-infection by COVID-19.

Interventions. Participants completed an ergometry pre and post COVID-19 infection.

Main outcome measures. The study's main variables were the metabolic equivalents of task (METs) and the indirect peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak).

Results. The median of METs was 11.7 (9.4-14.8) and 11.7 (11-11.7) in pre and post ergometry, respectively, (p = 0.022). The median VO2 (mL/Kg/min) was 21857 (16938-32761) and 21699 (17004-26467) in pre and post ergometry, respectively, without significant differences.

Conclusions. We found slight differences in maximal physical capacity evaluated through exercise testing in non-hospitalized patients by COVID-19.