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Rasmusen HK, Aarøe M, Madsen CV, Gudmundsdottir HL, Mertz KH, Mikkelsen AD, Dall CH, Brushøj C, Andersen JL, Vall-Lamora MHD, Bovin A, Magnusson SP, Thune JJ, Pecini R, Pedersen L. The COVID-19 in athletes (COVA) study: a national study on cardio-pulmonary involvement of SARS-CoV-2 infection among elite athletes. Eur Clin Respir J 2023; 10:2149919. [PMCID: PMC9744211 DOI: 10.1080/20018525.2022.2149919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanne Kruuse Rasmusen
- Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital – Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark,CONTACT Hanne Kruuse Rasmusen Clinic of Sports Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, University of Copenhagen Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, Building 67, DK-2200Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikkel Aarøe
- Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital – Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christoffer Valdorff Madsen
- Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital – Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Kenneth Hudlebusch Mertz
- Institute of Sports medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital – Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Astrid Duus Mikkelsen
- Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital – Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Have Dall
- Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital – Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christoffer Brushøj
- Institute of Sports medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital – Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jesper Løvind Andersen
- Institute of Sports medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital – Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Ann Bovin
- Department of Cardiology, Vejle Hospital, Part of Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark
| | - S. Peter Magnusson
- Institute of Sports medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital – Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark,Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Jakob Thune
- Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital – Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark,Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Redi Pecini
- Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lars Pedersen
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
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