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.