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Aims <p>This study aimed to explore the epidemiological circumstances, long-term clinical outcomes, and perceived impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus&#xa0;2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on elite athletes’ sports performance. A&#xa0;secondary objective was to determine the sports-specific (contact vs. noncontact) prevalence of SARS-CoV‑2 among 65&#xa0;SARS-CoV-2-positive athletes from the Olympic Training Center Rhineland (OSP; <i>n</i> = 599).</p> Methods <p>In all, 65&#xa0;SARS-CoV-2-positive athletes from the German Olympic Training Center (OSP; 66% males—age: 23 ± 4&#xa0;years; 34% females—age: 23 ± 5&#xa0;years) participated in the panel study. Data collection occurred between June 2020 and October 2021 at two test times (t0: after a&#xa0;negative polymerase chain reaction [PCR] test, t1: 16&#xa0;weeks after t0) through questionnaires and clinical assessments.</p> Results <p>The SARS-CoV‑2 prevalence was nearly identical in noncontact and contact-sport athletes (10.8% vs. 11.3%); 37% experienced symptoms lasting &gt; 4&#xa0;weeks. Over 50% of athletes paused their training for 4–8&#xa0;weeks. At&#xa0;t1, 40% still experienced reduced perceived performance capacity (PPC) compared to their pre-COVID-19 level, while 64% reported ongoing limitations in sports participation, with mental and physical fatigue as the most prominent limiting factor, followed by shortness of breath and joint and muscle pain.</p> Conclusion <p>The long-term management of SARS-CoV-2-positive elite athletes should involve a&#xa0;comprehensive, multidimensional psychophysiological approach to address persistent sport-restricting symptoms. This approach will assist in developing tailored training protocols that allow a&#xa0;gradual increase in intensity and volume.</p>

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Long-term clinical outcome and exercise capacity in SARS-CoV-2-positive elite athletes

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年2月21日

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  • Katharina Diebold,
  • Jonas Zacher,
  • Klaus Baum,
  • Hannes Reuter,
  • Christopher Schneeweis,
  • Thomas Schramm,
  • Inga Schifferdecker,
  • Argiris Vassiliadis,
  • Hans-Georg Predel

摘要

Aims

This study aimed to explore the epidemiological circumstances, long-term clinical outcomes, and perceived impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on elite athletes’ sports performance. A secondary objective was to determine the sports-specific (contact vs. noncontact) prevalence of SARS-CoV‑2 among 65 SARS-CoV-2-positive athletes from the Olympic Training Center Rhineland (OSP; n = 599).

Methods

In all, 65 SARS-CoV-2-positive athletes from the German Olympic Training Center (OSP; 66% males—age: 23 ± 4 years; 34% females—age: 23 ± 5 years) participated in the panel study. Data collection occurred between June 2020 and October 2021 at two test times (t0: after a negative polymerase chain reaction [PCR] test, t1: 16 weeks after t0) through questionnaires and clinical assessments.

Results

The SARS-CoV‑2 prevalence was nearly identical in noncontact and contact-sport athletes (10.8% vs. 11.3%); 37% experienced symptoms lasting > 4 weeks. Over 50% of athletes paused their training for 4–8 weeks. At t1, 40% still experienced reduced perceived performance capacity (PPC) compared to their pre-COVID-19 level, while 64% reported ongoing limitations in sports participation, with mental and physical fatigue as the most prominent limiting factor, followed by shortness of breath and joint and muscle pain.

Conclusion

The long-term management of SARS-CoV-2-positive elite athletes should involve a comprehensive, multidimensional psychophysiological approach to address persistent sport-restricting symptoms. This approach will assist in developing tailored training protocols that allow a gradual increase in intensity and volume.