Increased number of symptoms during the acutephase of SARS-cov- infection in athletes is associated with prolonged time to return to full sports performance—AWAREVIII
| dc.contributor.author | Snyders Carolette | |
| dc.contributor.author | Jordaan Esme | |
| dc.contributor.author | Dyer Marlise | |
| dc.contributor.author | Sewry Nicola | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-08-15T11:39:44Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-08-15T11:39:44Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.description.abstract | The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with prolonged time to return to full performance (RTFP) in athletes with recent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Methods Prospective cohort study with cross sectional analysis. A total of 84 athletes with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection assessed at a coronavirus disease 2019 recovery clinic gave a history of age, sex, type/level of sport, co-morbidities, pre-infection training hours, and 26 acute SARS-CoV-2 symptoms from 3 categories (“nose and throat”, “chest and neck”, and “whole body”/systemic). Data on days to RTFP were obtained by structured interviews. Factors associated with RTFP were demographics, sport participation, history of co-morbidities, pre-infection training history, and acute symptoms (type, number). Outcomes were: (a) days to RTFP (median, interquartile range (IQR)) in asymptomatic (n = 7) and symptomatic athletes (n = 77), and (b) hazard ratios (HRs; 95% confidence interval) for symptomatic athletes with vs. without a factor (univariate, multiple models). HR < 1 was predictive of higher percentage chance of prolonged RTFP. Significance was p < 0.05. Results Days to RTFP were 30 days (IQR: 23–40) for asymptomatic and 64 days (IQR: 42–91) for symptomatic participants (p > 0.05). Factors associated with prolonged RTFP (univariate models) were: females (HR = 0.57; p = 0.014), endurance athletes (HR = 0.41; p < 0.0001), co-morbidity number (HR = 0.75; p = 0.001), and respiratory disease history (HR = 0.54; p = 0.026). In symptomatic athletes, prolonged RTFP (multiple models) was significantly associated with increased “chest and neck” (HR = 0.85; p = 0.017) and “nose and throat” (HR = 0.84; p = 0.013) symptoms, but the association was more profound between prolonged RFTP and increased total number of “all symptoms” (HR = 0.91; p = 0.001) and “whole body”/systemic HR = 0.82; p = 0.007) symptoms. Conclusion A larger number of total symptoms and specifically “whole body”/systemic symptoms during the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection in athletes is associated with prolonged RTFP. | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Snyders, C., Dyer, M., Sewry, N., Jordaan, E. and Schwellnus, M., 2024. Increased number of symptoms during the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection in athletes is associated with prolonged time to return to full sports performance—AWARE VIII. Journal of sport and health science, 13(3), pp.280-287. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10566/20724 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | ElsevierB.V. | |
| dc.subject | Athletes | |
| dc.subject | COVID-19 | |
| dc.subject | Performance | |
| dc.subject | Recovery | |
| dc.subject | Return to play | |
| dc.title | Increased number of symptoms during the acutephase of SARS-cov- infection in athletes is associated with prolonged time to return to full sports performance—AWAREVIII | |
| dc.type | Article |