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Observational Study
. 2025 Feb 1;57(2):267-279.
doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003560. Epub 2024 Sep 16.

COVID-19's Impact on Athletes: Reduced Cardiorespiratory Fitness after a SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Erik Hasler, Manuel Widmann  1 , Bernhard Haller  2 , Roman Gaidai  3 , Andreas Venhorst  4 , Tim Meyer  4 , Claus Reinsberger  3 , Andreas M NIEß  1 , Kai Roecker  5 ; COSMO-S RESEARCH GROUP
Affiliations
Observational Study

COVID-19's Impact on Athletes: Reduced Cardiorespiratory Fitness after a SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Erik Hasler et al. Med Sci Sports Exerc. .

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to identify potential changes in cardiorespiratory fitness among athletes who had previously been infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Methods: In this prospective observational multicenter hybrid study (CoSmo-S), cardiopulmonary exercise testing on treadmills or bicycle ergometers involving 2314 athletes (39.6% female) was conducted. German federal squad members (59.6%) and non-squad athletes were included in the study. A total of 1170 (37.2% female) subjects were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 via polymerase chain reaction from which we had pre-SARS-CoV-2 infection examinations available for 289 subjects. Mixed-effect models were employed to analyze, among others, the following dependent variables: power output at individual anaerobic threshold (PO IAT ·kg -1 ), maximal power output (PO max ·kg -1 ), measured V̇O 2max ·kg -1 , heart rate at individual anaerobic threshold (HR IAT ), and maximal heart rate (HR max ).

Results: A SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a decrease in PO IAT ·kg -1 (-0.123 W·kg -1 , P < 0.001), PO max ·kg -1 (-0.099 W·kg -1 , P = 0.002), and measured V̇O 2max ·kg -1 (-1.70 mL·min -1 ·kg -1 , P = 0.050), and an increase in HR IAT (2.50 bpm, P = 0.008) and HR max (2.59 bpm, P < 0.001) within the first 60 d after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Using the pandemic onset in Germany as a longitudinal reference point, the healthy control group showed no change over time in these variables and an increase in PO max (+0.126 W·kg -1 , P = 0.039) during the first 60 d after the reference point. Subgroup analyses showed that both squad members and endurance athletes experienced greater decreases in cardiorespiratory fitness compared with non-squad members respectively athletes from explosive power sports.

Conclusions: A SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with a decline in cardiorespiratory fitness in athletes for approximately 60 d. Potential factors contributing to this outcome seem to be cardiopulmonary and vascular alterations in consequence of SARS-CoV-2. A minor effect on cardiorespiratory fitness has training interruption due to acute symptoms and/or quarantine.

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References

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