Oxygen uptake kinetics and chronotropic responses to exercise are impaired in survivors of severe COVID-19

Abstract

Our findings provide novel data regarding the impact of COVID-19 on submaximal and maximal cardiopulmonary responses to exercise. We showed that V̇o 2 kinetics is significantly impaired at both the onset (on-transient) and the recovery phase (off-transient) of exercise in these patients. Furthermore, our results suggest that survivors of severe COVID-19 may have a higher metabolic demand at a walking pace. These findings may partly explain the exertional intolerance frequently observed following COVID-19.