Prueba cardiopulmonar del ejercicio en pacientes con síndrome post-COVID-19

Barbagelata, L.; Masson, W.; Iglesias, D.; Lillo, E.; Migone, J.F.; Orazi, M.L.; Maritano Furcada, J.

Background and aim: Several reports have shown the persistence of long term symptoms after the initial COVID-19 infection (post-COVID-19 syndrome). The objective of this study was to analyze the characteristics of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) performed in patients with a history of COVID-19, comparing subjects according to the presence of post-COVID-19 syndrome. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed. Consecutive patients > 18 years with history of SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by polymerase chain reaction test and a CPET performed between 45 and 120 days after the viral episode were included. The association between variables related to CPET and post-COVID-19 syndrome was assessed using univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: A total of 200 patients (mean age 48.8 ± 14.3 years, 51% men) were included. Patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome showed significantly lower main peak VO(2) (25.8 ± 8.1 mL/min/Kg vs. 28.8 ± 9.6 mL/min/Kg, p=0.017) as compared to asymptomatic subjects. Moreover, patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome developed symptoms more frequently during CPET (52.7% vs. 13.7%, p<0.001) and were less likely to reach the anaerobic threshold (50.9% vs. 72.7%, p=0.002) when compared to asymptomatic subjects. These findings were not modified when adjusting for confounders. Conclusion: Our data suggest that post-COVID-19 syndrome was associated with less peak VO(2), a lower probability of achieving the anaerobic threshold and a higher probability of presenting symptoms during the CPET. Future studies are needed to determine if these abnormalities during CPET would have prognostic value.