tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Eur Clin Respir J
. 2022 Dec 9;10(1):2149919.
doi: 10.1080/20018525.2022.2149919. eCollection 2023.
The COVID-19 in athletes (COVA) study: a national study on cardio-pulmonary involvement of SARS-CoV-2 infection among elite athletes
Hanne Kruuse Rasmusen[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mikkel Aarøe[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Christoffer Valdorff Madsen[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Helga Lillian Gudmundsdottir[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Kenneth Hudlebusch Mertz[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Astrid Duus Mikkelsen[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Christian Have Dall[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Christoffer Brushøj[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Jesper Løvind Andersen[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Maria Helena Dominguez Vall-Lamora[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ann Bovin[SUP] 3 [/SUP], S Peter Magnusson[SUP] 2 4 [/SUP], Jens Jakob Thune[SUP] 1 4 [/SUP], Redi Pecini[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Lars Pedersen[SUP] 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 can cause cardiopulmonary involvement. Physical activity and cardiac complications can worsen prognosis, while pulmonary complications can reduce performance.
Aims: To determine the prevalence and clinical implications of SARS-CoV-2 cardiopulmonary involvement in elite athletes.
Methods: An observational study between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021 with the assessment of coronary biomarkers, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, Holter-monitoring, spirometry, and chest X-ray in Danish elite athletes showed that PCR-tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. The cohort consisted of male football players screened weekly (cohort I) and elite athletes on an international level only tested if they had symptoms, were near-contact, or participated in international competitions (cohort II). All athletes were categorized into two groups based on symptoms and duration of COVID-19: Group 1 had no cardiopulmonary symptoms and duration ≤7 days, and; Group 2 had cardiopulmonary symptoms or disease duration >7 days.
Results: In total 121 athletes who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were investigated. Cardiac involvement was identified in 2/121 (2%) and pulmonary involvement in 15/121 (12%) participants. In group 1, 87 (72%), no athletes presented with signs of cardiac involvement, and 8 (7%) were diagnosed with radiological COVID-19-related findings or obstructive lung function. In group 2, 34 (28%), two had myocarditis (6%), and 8 (24%) were diagnosed with radiological COVID-19-related findings or obstructive lung function.
Conclusions: These clinically-driven data show no signs of cardiac involvement among athletes who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection without cardiopulmonary symptoms and duration <7 days. Athletes with cardiopulmonary symptoms or prolonged duration of COVID-19 display, exercise-limiting cardiopulmonary involvement.
Keywords: Athletes; coronavirus; myocarditis; pulmonary involvement; return-to-sport.
. 2022 Dec 9;10(1):2149919.
doi: 10.1080/20018525.2022.2149919. eCollection 2023.
The COVID-19 in athletes (COVA) study: a national study on cardio-pulmonary involvement of SARS-CoV-2 infection among elite athletes
Hanne Kruuse Rasmusen[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mikkel Aarøe[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Christoffer Valdorff Madsen[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Helga Lillian Gudmundsdottir[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Kenneth Hudlebusch Mertz[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Astrid Duus Mikkelsen[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Christian Have Dall[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Christoffer Brushøj[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Jesper Løvind Andersen[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Maria Helena Dominguez Vall-Lamora[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ann Bovin[SUP] 3 [/SUP], S Peter Magnusson[SUP] 2 4 [/SUP], Jens Jakob Thune[SUP] 1 4 [/SUP], Redi Pecini[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Lars Pedersen[SUP] 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 36518348
- PMCID: PMC9744211
- DOI: 10.1080/20018525.2022.2149919
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 can cause cardiopulmonary involvement. Physical activity and cardiac complications can worsen prognosis, while pulmonary complications can reduce performance.
Aims: To determine the prevalence and clinical implications of SARS-CoV-2 cardiopulmonary involvement in elite athletes.
Methods: An observational study between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021 with the assessment of coronary biomarkers, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, Holter-monitoring, spirometry, and chest X-ray in Danish elite athletes showed that PCR-tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. The cohort consisted of male football players screened weekly (cohort I) and elite athletes on an international level only tested if they had symptoms, were near-contact, or participated in international competitions (cohort II). All athletes were categorized into two groups based on symptoms and duration of COVID-19: Group 1 had no cardiopulmonary symptoms and duration ≤7 days, and; Group 2 had cardiopulmonary symptoms or disease duration >7 days.
Results: In total 121 athletes who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were investigated. Cardiac involvement was identified in 2/121 (2%) and pulmonary involvement in 15/121 (12%) participants. In group 1, 87 (72%), no athletes presented with signs of cardiac involvement, and 8 (7%) were diagnosed with radiological COVID-19-related findings or obstructive lung function. In group 2, 34 (28%), two had myocarditis (6%), and 8 (24%) were diagnosed with radiological COVID-19-related findings or obstructive lung function.
Conclusions: These clinically-driven data show no signs of cardiac involvement among athletes who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection without cardiopulmonary symptoms and duration <7 days. Athletes with cardiopulmonary symptoms or prolonged duration of COVID-19 display, exercise-limiting cardiopulmonary involvement.
Keywords: Athletes; coronavirus; myocarditis; pulmonary involvement; return-to-sport.