The effects of COVID-19 lockdown on jumping performance and aerobic capacity in elite handball players.

The aim of this research was to analyse the capacity of a home-based training programme to preserve aerobic capacity and jumping performance in top-level handball players during the COVID-19 lockdown. Eleven top-level male handball players from the same team participated in the study. A submaximal shuttle run test and a counter-movement jump test were used to measure the players' aerobic fitness and lower limb explosive strength, respectively. A 9-week home-based training programme was followed during lockdown. Pre-test measurements were assessed before the pandemic on 29 January 2020 and ended on 18 May 2020. Moderate significant mean heart rate increases were found in the late stages of the submaximal shuttle run test after the lockdown (stage 5, 8.6%, P = 0.015; ES = 0.873; stage 6, 7.7%, P = 0.020; ES = 0.886; stage 7, 6.4%, P = 0.019; ES = 0.827). Moderate significant blood lactate increases were observed immediately after the submaximal shuttle run test following the lockdown (30.1%, P = 0.016; ES = 0.670). In contrast, no changes were found in jump performance. A structured home-based training programme during the COVID-19 lockdown preserved lower limb explosive strength but was an insufficient stimulus to maintain aerobic capacity in top-level handball players.

Nasopharyngeal Panbio COVID-19 Antigen Performed at Point-of-Care Has a High Sensitivity in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Patients With Higher Risk for Transmission and Older Age.

BACKGROUND: Performance of point-of-care tests in different clinical scenarios and on different samples remains undetermined. We comprehensively evaluated the performance of the nasopharyngeal Panbio COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test Device. METHODS: This is a prospective study that includes consecutive patients attending 3 primary care centers (PCCs) and an emergency department. The antigen test was performed at point-of-care in nasopharyngeal and nasal swabs and in saliva. Positive percent agreement (PPA) and negative percent agreement (NPA) were calculated with the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay as reference standard. RESULTS: Of 913 patients included, 296 (32.3%) were asymptomatic and 690 (75.6%) came from the PCC. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 913 patients, nasal swabs were collected from 659 patients, and saliva was collected from 611 patients. The RT-PCR was positive in 196 (21.5%) nasopharyngeal samples (NPS). Overall, PPA (95% CI) in NPS was 60.5% (53.3-67.4), and it was lower in nasal swabs (44.7%) and saliva (23.1%). Test performance in NPS was largely dependent on the cycle threshold (Ct) in RT-PCR, with PPA of 94% for Ct ≤25 and 80% for Ct <30. In symptomatic patients, the PPA was 95% for Ct ≤25, 85% for Ct <30, and 89% for the symptom triad of fever, cough, and malaise. Performance was also dependent on age, with a PPA of 100% in symptomatic patients >50 years with Ct <25. In asymptomatic patients, the PPA was 86% for Ct <25. In all cases, NPA was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: The nasopharyngeal Panbio COVID-19 Ag test performed at point-of-care has a good sensitivity in symptomatic patients with Ct <30 and older age. The test was useful to identify asymptomatic patients with lower Ct values.