Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal: Scientific Reports

Volume number: 12

Issue number: 1

ISSN: 2045-2322

Open access status: Gold

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-12734-z

Publisher: Nature Research

Abstract: 
SARS-CoV-2 may affect the cardiovascular system and vascular impairment has been reported in healthy young adults recovering from COVID-19. However, the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the vascular function of elite athletes is unknown. We examined 30 healthy male elite athletes (age 25.8 +/- 4.6 years) pre-season and at a 6-month follow-up (182 +/- 10 days). Vascular function and central blood pressure were calculated using transfer function-based analysis of peripheral arterial waveforms obtained by oscillometry. We performed a two-way repeated-measures ANOVA on the biomarker data, with SARS-CoV-2 status as the between-groups factor and time as the within-groups factor. Subjects who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were studied 18 +/- 4 days after their positive testing date at follow-up. Of 30 athletes, 15 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 after the first examination and prior to the follow-up. None had severe COVID-19 or reported any persisting symptoms. The results of the two-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed that there was no significant main effect of COVID-19 on any of the investigated biomarkers. However, there was a significant interaction between the effects of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and time on augmentation index (Aix) (p = 0.006) and augmentation index normalized to a heart rate of 75 beats per minute (Aix@75), (p = 0.0018). The observation of an interaction effect on Aix and Aix@75 in the absence of any main effect indicates a cross-over interaction. Significant vascular alterations in male elite athletes recovering from COVID-19 were observed that suggest vascular impairment. Whether these alterations affect athletic performance should be evaluated in future studies.

Harvard Citation style: Bauer, P., Kraushaar, L., Doerr, O., Keranov, S., Nef, H., Hamm, C., et al. (2022) Vascular alterations among male elite athletes recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection, Scientific Reports, 12(1), Article 8655. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-12734-z

APA Citation style: Bauer, P., Kraushaar, L., Doerr, O., Keranov, S., Nef, H., Hamm, C., & Most, A. (2022). Vascular alterations among male elite athletes recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Scientific Reports. 12(1), Article 8655. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-12734-z