Comparison of cardiorespiratory parameters between 6-minute walk test and 1-minute sit to stand test in young adults with post-COVID-19: follow-up 3 months

Abstract

Background: The investigation of cardiorespiratory fitness in young adults post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is interesting because this information may help in understanding cardiorespiratory function in these populations. Moreover, it helps to know that these impairments possibly interfere with study, learning, and the activities of daily life in young adults post-COVID-19. This study aims to investigate and compare the cardiorespiratory parameters between 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and 1-minute sit-to-stand test (1-min-STST) in healthy young adults and post-COVID-19 and at a 3-month follow-up. Methods: Forty-six young adults were recruited and divided into two groups including healthy young adults in one group (n=23) and post-COVID-19 patients in the other group (n=23). The young adults were assessed for cardiorespiratory parameters including heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and leg fatigue before and after performing a 6MWT and a 1-min STST at baseline and the 3-month follow-up. Test sequences were randomly assigned using the website randomizer.org. Results: Post-COVID-19 had significantly decreased post-HR, post-SBP, post-SpO2, post-RPE, post-leg fatigue, and increased the distance of 6MWT, and number of steps of 1-min-STST when compared with the baseline (P<0.05). However, all parameters of cardiorespiratory could recover and return to the values of healthy young adults by the follow-up at 3 months. Conclusions: Post-COVID-19 who recovered from mild-COVID-19 for about 6 months recovered their cardiorespiratory parameters to the values of healthy young adults.