Ventilatory efficiency in post‐COVID‐19 athletes

Abstract

Abstract Limitation in exercise capacity has not been described in athletes affected by SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. However, patients who have recovered from COVID‐19 without cardiopulmonary impairment show exaggerated ventilatory response during exercise. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the ventilatory efficiency (VEf) in competitive athletes recovered from COVID‐19 and to characterize the ventilation versus carbon dioxide relationship (VE/VCO2) slope in this population. Thirty‐seven competitive athletes with COVID‐19 were recruited for this study. All participants underwent spirometry, echocardiography, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). z‐FVC values and end‐title pressure of CO2 (PETCO2) were lower in the third tertile compared with the first tertile: −0.753 ± 0.473 vs. 0.037 ± 0.911, p = 0.05; 42.2 ± 2.7 vs. 37.1 ± 2.5 mmHg, p < 0.01. VE/VCO2 slope was significantly correlated to maximal VCO2/VE and maximal VO2/VE: coefficient = −0.5 R2 = 0.58, p < 0.0001 and coefficient = −0.3 R2 = 0.16, p = 0.008. Competitive athletes affected by SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, without cardio‐respiratory disease sequel, may present ventilatory inefficiency (ViE), without exercise capacity limitation. FVC is higher in athletes with better ventilatory performance during exercise, and increased VE/VCO2 slope is inversely correlated to max VCO2/VE and max VO2/VE.

Keywords

• athletes
• COVID‐19
• CPET
• exercise
• VE/VCO2 slope
• ventilatory efficiency