Impaired pulmonary and muscle function during moderate exercise in female patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2

This study aimed to assess pulmonary and muscle dysfunction by analyzing the slow component of oxygen uptake (VO(2SC)), and mechanical and ventilatory efficiency in adult women recovered from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type II (SARS-CoV-2) during a constant load test. 32 women (N = 17 patients with SARS-CoV-2; N = 15 control group) performed two cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPX) on a cycle ergometer. In the first test, the participants performed incremental CPX until extenuation. In the second test the participants performed a 10-min CPX at a constant load intensity (watts) corresponding to the first ventilatory threshold. There was a 48–72 h rest period between the two tests. There was a significant increase in the VO(2SC) in the patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 (160.4 ± 60 mL min(−1)) in comparison with the healthy participants (59.6 ± 65 mL min(−1)) (P < 0.001). Mechanical efficiency significantly decreased in patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 compared to the control group (P = 0.04). Ventilatory inefficiency significantly increased in the patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 compared with the control group (P < 0.001). Adult women recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection have important pulmonary and muscular dysfunction and fatigue which contributes to increasing the VO(2SC) and reducing mechanical and ventilatory efficiency during mild-moderate exercise at a constant load.