COVID-19: the new cause of dyspnoea as a result of reduced lung and peripheral muscle performance

This study aimed to evaluate the cardiopulmonary function and impairment of exercise endurance in patients with COVID-19 after 3 months of the second wave of the pandemic in Turkey. A total of 51 consecutive COVID-19 survivors, mostly healthcare providers, still working in the emergency room and intensive care units of the hospital after the second wave of Covid 19 pandemia were included in this study. Cardiopulmonary exercise stress test was performed. The median of the exercise time of the COVID-19 survivors, was 10 (4.5–13) minutes and the mean 6.8 ± 1.3 Mets was achieved. The VO2 max of the COVID-19 survivors was 24 ± 4.6 ml kg−1 min−1 which corresponds the 85 ± 10% of the predicted VO2 max value. The VO2WRs value which was reported about 8.5–11 ml min−1 per watt in healthy individuals as normal was found lower in Covid 19 survivors (5.6 ± 1.4). The percentage of the maximum peak VO2 calculated according to the predictable peak VO2 of the COVID-19 survivors, was found significantly lower in male patients (92 ± 9.5% vs 80 ± 8.5%, p: 0.000). Also, there was a positive correlation between the percentage of the maximum predicted VO2 measurements and age (r: 0.320, p: 0000). The peak VO2 values of COVID-19 survivors decreased, and simultaneously, their exercise performance decreased due to peripheral muscle involvement. We believe that COVID-19 significantly affects men and young patients.