Impact of (long) COVID on athletes’ performance: a prospective study in elite football players

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate possible persistent performance deficits after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in elite athletes. Methods: A prospective cohort study in three Belgian professional male football teams was performed during the 2020 − 2021 season. Participants were submitted to strength, jump, and sprint tests and an aerobic performance test (the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery test (YYIR)). These tests were repeated at fixed time intervals throughout the season. Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infection was performed by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test before each official game. Results: Of the 84 included participants, 22 were infected with SARS-CoV-2 during follow-up. At the first testing after infection (52.0 ± 11.2 days after positive PCR testing) significantly higher percentages of maximal heart rate (%HRmax) were seen–within the isolated group of infected players- during (p =.006) and after the YYIR (2 min after, p =.013), compared to pre-infection data. This increase in %HRmax was resolved at the second YYIR testing after infection (127.6 ± 33.1 days after positive PCR testing). Additionally, when comparing the first test after infection in formerly infected to non-infected athletes, significantly higher %HRmax were found during (p