Cardiopulmonary Function in Pediatric Post-COVID-19: A Controlled Clinical Trial

Background: The importance of post-COVID-19 in adults has been recognized in many publications. However, in children, all studies are limited to surveys and chart analyses. Especially objective data in the form of CPET are still scarce. This study therefore aims to investigate the cardiopulmonary effects of post-COVID-19 on children and adolescents to objectify the symptoms of post-COVID-19 in children. This is the first study to evaluate cardiopulmonary exercise data in children after infection with SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: In the FASCINATE study (a cross-sectional study) children fulfilling the criteria of post-COVID-19 and children who showed no signs of post-COVID-19 after infection with SARS-CoV-2 underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a treadmill. A questionnaire with regards to physical activity before, during and after the infection with SARS-CoV-2 was completed.

Results: We were able to recruit 20 children suffering from post-COVID-19 (mean age: 12.8 ± 2.4 years, 60% females) and 28 children after SARS-CoV-2 infection without symptoms of post-COVID-19 (mean age: 11.7 ± 3.5 years, 50% females). All participants completed a maximal treadmill test with a significantly lower in the post-COVID-19 group (37.4 ± 8.8 mL/kg/min vs. 43.0 ± 6.7 mL/kg/min). This significant difference was limited to the female group. This significance did not persist when comparing the achieved percent of predicted norms. No other parameters (O2pulse, peak VE, VE/VCO2) showed any significant differences. The only significant correlation proved to be between and the rest period from physical activity after the infection with SARS-CoV-2.

Conclusion: This is the first study to investigate post-COVID-19 in children using objectifiable measurements such as CPET. Although there was a significantly reduced in the group suffering from post-COVID-19, this was not true when analyzing the percent of predicted values and was limited to the girls. Furthermore, no pathological findings with respect to cardiac or pulmonary functions could be discerned. In light of the significant correlation between and rest period after infection, deconditioning seems to be the main cause for the symptoms experienced by children suffering from post-COVID-19.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
13. Februar 2024