tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
BMC Pulm Med
. 2024 May 25;24(1):258.
doi: 10.1186/s12890-024-03070-1. Persisting exercise ventilatory inefficiency in subjects recovering from COVID-19. Longitudinal data analysis 34 months post-discharge
Gianluigi Dorelli[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Giulia Sartori[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Giulia Fasoli[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nicolò Ridella[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Nicola Bianchini[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Michele Braggio[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Marcello Ferrari[SUP] 1 3 [/SUP], Massimo Venturelli[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Luca Dalle Carbonare[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Carlo Capelli[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Bruno Grassi[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Ernesto Crisafulli[SUP] 5 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection has raised concerns about long-term health repercussions. Exercise ventilatory inefficiency (EVin) has emerged as a notable long-term sequela, potentially impacting respiratory and cardiovascular health. This study aims to assess the long-term presence of EVin after 34 months and its association with cardiorespiratory health in post-COVID patients.
Methods: In a longitudinal study on 32 selected post-COVID subjects, we performed two cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPETs) at 6 months (T0) and 34 months (T1) after hospital discharge. The study sought to explore the long-term persistence of EVin and its correlation with respiratory and cardiovascular responses during exercise. Measurements included also V̇O[SUB]2peak,[/SUB] end-tidal pressure of CO[SUB]2[/SUB] (PET[SUB]CO2[/SUB]) levels, oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) and other cardiorespiratory parameters, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. The presence of EVin at both T0 and T1 defines a persisting EVin (pEVin).
Results: Out of the cohort, five subjects (16%) have pEVin at 34 months. Subjects with pEVin, compared to those with ventilatory efficiency (Evef) have lower values of PET[SUB]CO2[/SUB] throughout exercise, showing hyperventilation. Evef subjects demonstrated selective improvements in DL[SUB]CO[/SUB] and oxygen pulse, suggesting a recovery in cardiorespiratory function over time. In contrast, those with pEvin did not exhibit these improvements. Notably, significant correlations were found between hyperventilation (measured by PET[SUB]CO2[/SUB]), oxygen pulse and OUES, indicating the potential prognostic value of OUES and Evin in post-COVID follow-ups.
Conclusions: The study highlights the clinical importance of long-term follow-up for post-COVID patients, as a significant group exhibit persistent EVin, which correlates with altered and potentially unfavorable cardiovascular responses to exercise. These findings advocate for the continued investigation into the long-term health impacts of COVID-19, especially regarding persistent ventilatory inefficiencies and their implications on patient health outcomes.
Keywords: COVID-19; Cardiopulmonary exercise test; End-tidal pressure of CO2; Exercise ventilatory inefficiency; Hyperventilation; Oxygen pulse.
. 2024 May 25;24(1):258.
doi: 10.1186/s12890-024-03070-1. Persisting exercise ventilatory inefficiency in subjects recovering from COVID-19. Longitudinal data analysis 34 months post-discharge
Gianluigi Dorelli[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Giulia Sartori[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Giulia Fasoli[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nicolò Ridella[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Nicola Bianchini[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Michele Braggio[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Marcello Ferrari[SUP] 1 3 [/SUP], Massimo Venturelli[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Luca Dalle Carbonare[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Carlo Capelli[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Bruno Grassi[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Ernesto Crisafulli[SUP] 5 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 38796432
- DOI: 10.1186/s12890-024-03070-1
Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection has raised concerns about long-term health repercussions. Exercise ventilatory inefficiency (EVin) has emerged as a notable long-term sequela, potentially impacting respiratory and cardiovascular health. This study aims to assess the long-term presence of EVin after 34 months and its association with cardiorespiratory health in post-COVID patients.
Methods: In a longitudinal study on 32 selected post-COVID subjects, we performed two cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPETs) at 6 months (T0) and 34 months (T1) after hospital discharge. The study sought to explore the long-term persistence of EVin and its correlation with respiratory and cardiovascular responses during exercise. Measurements included also V̇O[SUB]2peak,[/SUB] end-tidal pressure of CO[SUB]2[/SUB] (PET[SUB]CO2[/SUB]) levels, oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) and other cardiorespiratory parameters, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. The presence of EVin at both T0 and T1 defines a persisting EVin (pEVin).
Results: Out of the cohort, five subjects (16%) have pEVin at 34 months. Subjects with pEVin, compared to those with ventilatory efficiency (Evef) have lower values of PET[SUB]CO2[/SUB] throughout exercise, showing hyperventilation. Evef subjects demonstrated selective improvements in DL[SUB]CO[/SUB] and oxygen pulse, suggesting a recovery in cardiorespiratory function over time. In contrast, those with pEvin did not exhibit these improvements. Notably, significant correlations were found between hyperventilation (measured by PET[SUB]CO2[/SUB]), oxygen pulse and OUES, indicating the potential prognostic value of OUES and Evin in post-COVID follow-ups.
Conclusions: The study highlights the clinical importance of long-term follow-up for post-COVID patients, as a significant group exhibit persistent EVin, which correlates with altered and potentially unfavorable cardiovascular responses to exercise. These findings advocate for the continued investigation into the long-term health impacts of COVID-19, especially regarding persistent ventilatory inefficiencies and their implications on patient health outcomes.
Keywords: COVID-19; Cardiopulmonary exercise test; End-tidal pressure of CO2; Exercise ventilatory inefficiency; Hyperventilation; Oxygen pulse.