Submaximal 2‐day cardiopulmonary exercise testing to assess exercise capacity and post‐exertional symptom exacerbation in people with long COVID.

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THOMAS, Callum, KUDIERSKY, Nikolaus, ANSDELL, Paul, ASHTON, Ruth E, BROWN, Calum, BEWICK, Thomas, CARR, Jack, HUME, Emily, SPILLANE, Padraig, PASTORIO, Elisa, OWEN, Rebecca, MADEN-WILKINSON, Tom, MCNEIL‐ANGOPA, Ethan, PARKINGTON, Tom, ARENA, Ross, OZEMEK, Cemal, FORMENTI, Federico, VELUSWAMY, Sundar Kumar, GURURAJ, Rachita and FAGHY, Mark A (2025). Submaximal 2‐day cardiopulmonary exercise testing to assess exercise capacity and post‐exertional symptom exacerbation in people with long COVID. Experimental Physiology. [Article]

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35822:956568

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35822:956568

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Abstract

Long COVID has a complex pathology and a heterogeneous symptom profile that impacts quality of life and functional status. Post‐exertional symptom exacerbation (PESE) affects one‐third of people living with long COVID, but the physiological basis of impaired physical function remains poorly understood. Sixty‐eight people (age (mean ± SD): 50 ± 11 years, 46 females (68%)) were screened for severity of PESE and completed two submaximal cardiopulmonary exercise tests separated by 24 h. Work rate was stratified relative to functional status and was set at 10, 20 or 30 W, increasing by 5 W/min for a maximum of 12 min. At the first ventilatory threshold (VT1), was 0.73 ± 0.16 L/min on Day 1 and decreased on Day 2 (0.68 ± 0.16 L/min; P = 0.003). Work rate at VT1 was lower on Day 2 (Day 1 vs. Day 2; 28 ± 13 vs. 24 ± 12 W; P = 0.004). Oxygen pulse on Day 1 at VT1 was 8.2 ± 2.2 mL/beat and was reduced on Day 2 (7.5 ± 1.8 mL/beat; P= 0.002). The partial pressure of end tidal carbon dioxide was reduced on Day 2 (Day 1 vs. Day 2; 38 ± 3.8 vs. 37 ± 3.2 mmHg; P = 0.010). Impaired is indicative of reduced transport and/or utilisation of oxygen. at VT1 was impaired on Day 2, highlighting worsened function in the 24 h after submaximal exercise. The data suggest multiple contributing physiological mechanisms across different systems and further research is needed to investigate these areas.

More Information

Official URL:

https://doi.org/10.1113/ep092576

Open Access URL:

https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10...

Open Access Version:

Published version

Uncontrolled Keywords:

0606 Physiology; 1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences; 1116 Medical Physiology; Physiology; 3109 Zoology; 3208 Medical physiology; 4207 Sports science and exercise

Identifiers

Identification Number:

10.1113/ep092576

ORCID for Callum Thomas: