COVID-19 reduces cardiorespiratory fitness even months after a mild to moderate acute phase: a retrospective cohort study

Štěpánek, Ladislav; Nakládalová, Marie; Sovová, Eliška; Štěpánek, Lubomír; Boriková, Alena; Sovová, Markéta; Moravcová, Katarína; Ožana, Jaromír; Jelínek, Libor

doi:10.1080/23744235.2023.2228408

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…The only study we are aware of that investigated longitudinal changes in CRF among a work group was conducted by Štěpánek et al (21) who investigated healthcare workers over a much longer duration than our study or the previously cited athlete studies. Repeat CPET evaluations were performed in this group an average of 762 days apart, with the second CPET occurring ∼321 days after COVID-19 was reported.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Due to limited use of CPET, few studies have been able to employ a longitudinal, single group design to examine preand post-COVID-19 infection changes in CRF, particularly with participants who experienced mild to moderate symptoms. Studies that have, showed significant declines in CRF from pre-to post-COVID-19 infection (21,24,25). Generalizability of findings to the fire service, however, is limited due to study participant characteristics being unlike the fire service.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Recent research has presented convincing evidence that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection can result in decreased CRF (14-22). Although elapsed time since illness appears to mitigate CRF decrements (15,17), reduced CRF can persist for months following COVID-19 infection (15,17,(20)(21)(22). Unsurprisingly, CRF decrements are more pronounced in those who experienced severe illness (14, 17,19,22).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Generalizability of findings to the fire service, however, is limited due to study participant characteristics being unlike the fire service. One study of healthcare workers consisted primarily of older women (21) and two additional studies utilized data from competitive athletes-a uniquely fit group (24,25).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The effect of mild to moderate COVID-19 infection on the cardiorespiratory fitness of firefighters

D'Isabel,

Berny,

Frost

et al. 2023

Front. Public Health

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IntroductionAn adequate level of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is critical for firefighters to perform the strenuous and physiologically demanding work of firefighting safely and effectively. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been shown to negatively impact CRF in both the acute phase and longer-term following infection. This study aimed to determine changes to the CRF of firefighters pre- to post-mild to moderate COVID-19 infection and to investigate the impact of days past COVID-19 infection on change in CRF.MethodsCRF measures from cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) at annual occupational health exams that occurred pre-COVID-19 infection in 2019 were obtained for firefighters from seven Arizona fire departments. Measures were compared to CPET evaluations from annual health exams the following year in a cohort of firefighters who self-reported mild to moderate illness following COVID-19 infection between exams.ResultsAmong a cohort of 103 firefighters, mean age 40 ± 9 years, CRF [as measured by peak oxygen consumption (VO2)] declined by an average of 2.55 ml·kg−1·min−1 or 7.3% (d = −0.38, p < 0.001) following COVID-19 infection (mean time from COVID-19 infection to CPET was 110 ± 78 days). The number of days past COVID-19 infection showed a small, yet significant, relationship to peak VO2 (r = 0.250, p = 0.011). Estimated marginal effects indicated that when biological sex, age, and BMI are controlled for, predicted peak VO2 returned to pre-COVID-19 values ~300 days after COVID-19 infection.ConclusionPeak VO2 (ml·kg−1·min−1) declined 7.3% among firefighters an average of 110 days past reporting mild to moderate COVID-19 infection. This decrease has implications for the operational readiness and safety of firefighters.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%