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 VOmax of the COVID-19 survivors was 24 ± 4.6 ml kgminwhich corresponds the 85 ± 10% of the predicted VOmax value. The VOWRs value which was reported about 8.5-11 ml minper watt in healthy individuals as normal was found lower in Covid 19 survivors (5.6 ± 1.4). The percentage of the maximum peak VOcalculated according to the predictable peak VOof the COVID-19 survivors, was found significantly lower in male patients (92 ± 9.5% vs 80 ± 8.5%,: 0.000). Also, there was a positive correlation between the percentage of the maximum predicted VOmeasurements and age (: 0.320,: 0000). The peak VOvalues 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.