ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: The COVID-19 lockdown in Germany has led to the closure of sports facilities and to the closure of schools with their curricular physical activities (PA). However, physical activity is essential for improving or at least maintaining cardiopulmonary function assessed by VO2peak. VO2peak represents the best pre-dictor for mortality and morbidity in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). It is therefore essential to evaluate the effect of lock-downs on this important parameter in children with heart disease. Method(s): We evaluated data from cardiopulmonary exercise data from before lockdown with twin-paired data from during lockdown. The statistically approved twin-pairing was achieved by matching patients with similar heart disease, age, sex, and test method. The subjects con-sisted of a variety of patients who had received cardiopulmonary exer-cise testing in our department in the past 3 years. Result(s): We were able to twin-pair 52 tests leading to 27 twins. A mean RER of more than 1.1 was achieved in both groups with comparable exercise times. There was a significant decrease of cardiopulmonary function (VO2peak: 35.7 +/- 9.8 vs.30.4 +/- 10.6) in our patient cohort along with a significant decrease in peak O2pulse (13.3 +/- 4.1 vs. 11.4 +/- 4.5), a surrogate parameter for stroke volume and most pronounced in peak minute ventilation (VE: 83.05 +/- 29.08 vs.71,49 +/- 24.96). Conclusion(s): We observed a significant decline of V O-2peak during lockdown. This involved a loss of cardiac function assessed by O2pulse as well as a loss of pulmonary function assessed by V E. We believe that the decline of these important predictive param-eters could be explained by the limited access to sports facilities as well as the restriction of regular daily movement as a consequence of closing schools and thus curricular PA. Measures need to be established to ensure access to physical activity for children suffer-ing from heart disease during lockdowns.
ABSTRACT
This research intends to know the perceived barriers, as well as their predictor variables, in people who practice Physical Activity in fitness centers and were home confined due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample was conformed of 8,087 physical activity practitioners. An online questionnaire was administered by email. A descriptive analysis of the perceived barriers was done, and logistic regression analysis to determine possible predictor variables. The most important perceived barriers were price and a lack of safety. Age, gender, the vigorous physical practice frequency and the observation of the WHO recommendations would be the predictor variables to a larger extend for the perceived barriers. The results are relevant for sport organizations to plan their services offer post lockdown. © 2022. Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Murcia. All Rights Reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background: As a consequence of the COVID-19 lockdown physical activity (PA) was difficult to access. PA is essential for improving and maintaining cardiopulmonary function, assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) as VO2 peak. VO2 peak is the best predictor for mortality and morbidity in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). The question arises whether the COVID-19-lockdown led to a loss of cardiopulmonary function in typical cardiopediatric patients. Method: We conducted a retrospective study in which CPETs from before lockdown were compared with twin-paired tests during lockdown. The matching of the twins consisted of similar heart disease, comparable age, sex, and test method. The patients consisted of typical patients from our hospital. All tests were performed on either a treadmill or a bicycle. Results: We were able to twin-pair 90 tests leading to 45 twins. Overall, there were 38 healthy and 52 patients with CHD. A mean RER of more than 1.1 was achieved in both groups with comparable exercise times. There was a significant decrease of cardiopulmonary function in patients with CHD along with peak O2pulse and peak VEs ([Table]). Healthy children showed a nonsignificant increase of cardiopulmonary function. Conclusion: During lockdown cardiopulmonary function declined in our patients with CHD. Causes for this decline could be the lack of availability of sports facilities, restriction of regular daily movement, and the closing of schools and curricular PA. Interestingly, healthy children did not show this loss of cardiopulmonary function. Maybe this could point to more movement-oriented school concepts in the future.