Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Patients with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome

Barbagelata, Leandro; Masson, Walter; Iglesias, Diego; Lillo, Ezequiel; Migone, Juan Francisco; Orazi, María Laura; Furcada, Joaquín Maritano

doi:10.1016/j.medcle.2021.07.023

Cited by 13 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…91 We did not find differences in VO 2 /work slope, a noninvasive correlate of measured oxygen extraction. Although more common in PASC than in recovered individuals, ventilatory limitation is uncommon 21 and only one study has reported ventilatory inefficiency or ventilation/perfusion mismatch from pulmonary vasculopathy. 20 Although not observed among any of our participants, dysfunctional (rapid, erratic) breathing or exercise hyperventilation may contribute to dyspnea in PASC as a manifestation of autonomic dysfunction.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduced exercise capacity, chronotropic incompetence, and early systemic inflammation in cardiopulmonary phenotype Long COVID

Durstenfeld

Peluso

Kaveti

et al. 2022

Preprint

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BACKGROUNDMechanisms underlying persistent cardiopulmonary symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection (post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 “PASC” or “Long COVID”) remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the pathophysiology of cardiopulmonary PASC using multimodality cardiovascular imaging including cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and ambulatory rhythm monitoring.METHODSIn the Long-Term Impact of Infection with Novel Coronavirus (LIINC) Cohort, we performed CMR, CPET, and ambulatory rhythm monitoring among adults > 1 year after PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. We used logistic and linear regression to compare those with and without cardiopulmonary symptoms (dyspnea, chest pain, palpitations) adjusting for confounders.RESULTSOne hundred twenty individuals were studied, among whom 46 participants (unselected for symptom status) had at least one advanced test performed at median 17 months (IQR 15-18). Median age was 52 (IQR 42-61), 18 (39%) were female, and 6 (13%) were hospitalized for severe acute infection. On CMR (n=39), smaller RV volume and stroke volume and higher extracellular volume were present among those with symptoms, but no evidence of late-gadolinium enhancement or differences in T1 or T2 mapping were demonstrated. We did not find arrhythmias on ambulatory monitoring. In contrast, on CPET (n=39), 13/15 (87%) participants with reduced exercise capacity (<85% predicted) reported cardiopulmonary symptoms or fatigue (p=0.008). Adjusted peak VO2 was 2.7 ml/kg/min lower among those with cardiopulmonary symptoms (95%CI −6.9 to 1.5; p=0.20) or −11% predicted (95%CI −27 to 5, p=0.17). Including fatigue along with cardiopulmonary symptoms, the adjusted difference in peak VO2 was −5.9 ml/kg/min (−9.6 to −2.3; p=0.002) or −21% predicted (−35 to −7; p=0.006). Chronotropic incompetence was the primary abnormality among 9/15 with reduced peak VO2. Adjusted heart rate reserve <80% was associated with reduced exercise capacity (OR 15.6, 95%CI 1.30-187; p=0.03). Those with chronotropic incompetence had higher hsCRP, lower heart rate recovery, and lower heart rate variability suggestive of autonomic dysfunction.CONCLUSIONSReduced exercise capacity and reduced heart rate response to exercise, and hsCRP are associated with persistent cardiopulmonary symptoms more than 1 year following COVID-19. Chronic inflammation and autonomic dysfunction may underlie cardiopulmonary PASC.Clinical PerspectiveWhat is New?Impaired chronotropic response to exercise is associated with reduced exercise capacity and cardiopulmonary symptoms more than 1 year after SARS-CoV-2 infection.Findings on ambulatory rhythm monitoring point to perturbed autonomic function, while cardiac MRIfindings argue against myocardial dysfunction and myocarditis.Clinical ImplicationsCardiopulmonary testing to identify etiologies of persistent symptoms in post-acute sequalae of COVID-19 or “Long COVID” should be performed in a manner that allows for assessment of heart rate response to exercise.Therapeutic trials of antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and exercise strategies in PASC are urgently needed and should include assessment of symptoms and objective testing with cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduced exercise capacity, chronotropic incompetence, and early systemic inflammation in cardiopulmonary phenotype Long COVID

Durstenfeld

Peluso

Kaveti

et al. 2022

Preprint

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“…Adjusted for gender, cardiovascular history, beta blockers, and aspirin, Barbagaleta estimated peak VO2 was 3.2 ml/min/kg lower in PASC (95% CI 0.9-5.5), but did not include BMI or age. 45 Our own study reported that adjusted peak VO2 was 5.9 ml/kg/min (95% CI 2.3-9.6) lower in LC adjusted for age, sex, BMI, time since infection, and hospitalization. Because several studies did not report percent predicted peak VO2 we did not conduct our planned meta-analysis to address confounding.…”

Section: Exercise Capacity In Lc Compared To Recovered Individualsmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Only two studies (including our own) presented an adjusted difference in peak VO 2 between those with and without LC. 25,45…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Selection bias likely results in overestimation of the proportion with reduced exercise capacity; only one study commented on the inability to estimate the proportion with reduced exercise capacity due to their sampling strategy. 45 Most studies did not include contemporary uninfected controls. Ideally controls should be randomly sampled from the same target population as infected individuals, with selection criteria informed by the specific research question.…”

Section: Challenges To Estimating the Effect Of Sars-cov-2 On Exercis...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cardiopulmonary exercise testing to evaluate post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (“Long COVID”): a systematic review and meta-analysis

Durstenfeld

Sun

Tahir

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Importance: Reduced exercise capacity is commonly reported among individuals with Long COVID (LC). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is the gold-standard to measure exercise capacity to identify causes of exertional intolerance. Objectives: To estimate the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on exercise capacity including those with and without LC symptoms and to characterize physiologic patterns of limitations to elucidate possible mechanisms of LC. Data Sources: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science, preprint severs, conference abstracts, and cited references in December 2021 and again in May 2022. Study Selection: We included studies of adults with SARS-CoV-2 infection at least three months prior that included CPET measured peak VO2. 3,523 studies were screened independently by two blinded reviewers; 72 (2.2%) were selected for full-text review and 36 (1.2%) met the inclusion criteria; we identified 3 additional studies from preprint servers. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Data extraction was done by two independent reviewers according to PRISMA guidelines. Data were pooled with random-effects models. Main Outcomes and Measures: A priori primary outcomes were differences in peak VO2 (in ml/kg/min) among those with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection and LC. Results: We identified 39 studies that performed CPET on 2,209 individuals 3-18 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, including 944 individuals with LC symptoms and 246 SARS-CoV-2 uninfected controls. Most were case-series of individuals with LC or post-hospitalization cohorts. By meta-analysis of 9 studies including 404 infected individuals, peak VO2 was 7.4 ml/kg/min (95%CI 3.7 to 11.0) lower among infected versus uninfected individuals. A high degree of heterogeneity was attributable to patient and control selection, and these studies mostly included previously hospitalized, persistently symptomatic individuals. Based on meta-analysis of 9 studies with 464 individuals with LC, peak VO2 was 4.9 ml/kg/min (95%CI 3.4 to 6.4) lower compared to those without symptoms. Deconditioning was common, but dysfunctional breathing, chronotropic incompetence, and abnormal oxygen extraction were also described. Conclusions and Relevance: These studies suggest that exercise capacity is reduced after SARS-CoV-2 infection especially among those hospitalized for acute COVID-19 and individuals with LC. Mechanisms for exertional intolerance besides deconditioning may be multifactorial or related to underlying autonomic dysfunction.

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Use of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing to Evaluate Long COVID-19 Symptoms in Adults

et al. 2022

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ImportanceReduced exercise capacity is commonly reported among individuals with COVID-19 symptoms more than 3 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection (long COVID-19 [LC]). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is the criterion standard to measure exercise capacity and identify patterns of exertional intolerance.ObjectivesTo estimate the difference in exercise capacity among individuals with and without LC symptoms and characterize physiological patterns of limitations to elucidate possible mechanisms of LC.Data SourcesA search of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, preprint servers, conference abstracts, and cited references was performed on December 20, 2021, and again on May 24, 2022. A preprint search of medrxiv.org, biorxiv.org, and researchsquare.com was performed on June 9, 2022.Study SelectionStudies of adults with SARS-CoV-2 infection more than 3 months earlier that included CPET-measured peak oxygen consumption (V̇o2) were screened independently by 2 blinded reviewers; 72 (2%) were selected for full-text review, and 35 (1%) met the inclusion criteria. An additional 3 studies were identified from preprint servers.Data Extraction and SynthesisData extraction was performed by 2 independent reviewers according to the PRISMA reporting guideline. Data were pooled using random-effects models.Main Outcomes and MeasuresDifference in peak V̇o2 (in mL/kg/min) among individuals with and without persistent COVID-19 symptoms more than 3 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection.ResultsA total of 38 studies were identified that performed CPET on 2160 individuals 3 to 18 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, including 1228 with symptoms consistent with LC. Most studies were case series of individuals with LC or cross-sectional assessments within posthospitalization cohorts. Based on a meta-analysis of 9 studies including 464 individuals with LC symptoms and 359 without symptoms, the mean peak V̇o2 was −4.9 (95% CI, −6.4 to −3.4) mL/kg/min among those with symptoms with a low degree of certainty. Deconditioning and peripheral limitations (abnormal oxygen extraction) were common, but dysfunctional breathing and chronotropic incompetence were also described. The existing literature was limited by small sample sizes, selection bias, confounding, and varying symptom definitions and CPET interpretations, resulting in high risk of bias and heterogeneity.Conclusions and RelevanceThe findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis study suggest that exercise capacity was reduced more than 3 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection among individuals with symptoms consistent with LC compared with individuals without LC symptoms, with low confidence. Potential mechanisms for exertional intolerance other than deconditioning include altered autonomic function (eg, chronotropic incompetence, dysfunctional breathing), endothelial dysfunction, and muscular or mitochondrial pathology.

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Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Patients with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome

Cited by 13 publications

References 24 publications

Reduced exercise capacity, chronotropic incompetence, and early systemic inflammation in cardiopulmonary phenotype Long COVID

Reduced exercise capacity, chronotropic incompetence, and early systemic inflammation in cardiopulmonary phenotype Long COVID

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing to evaluate post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (“Long COVID”): a systematic review and meta-analysis

Use of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing to Evaluate Long COVID-19 Symptoms in Adults

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