EXERCISE INTOLERANCE IN LONG COVID AFTER 26 MONTHS FROM SEVERE ACUTE DISEASE

<bold>Objective:</bold> to evaluate the functional capacity of individuals with persistent symptoms after severe COVID-19 infection compared to control individuals after 26 months. <bold>Methods and results:</bold> This was a cross-sectional study with 17 adults who recovered from severe COVID-19 (with long COVID), and 17 adults in a paired control group (no long COVID) regarding functional capacity by 6-minute walk test (6MWT) associated with gas analysis. All assessments occurred between 26±9 months after acute disease. Dyspnea was still reported by 100% of the subjects (mMRC ≥2). The patients were matched by age (severe COVID-19: 46±8 vs control group: 45±8years, p=0.59) and weight (severe COVID-19: 78 ±20 vs control group: 83±19 years, p=0.59). The severe COVID-19 (long COVID group) group showed a lower peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2 peak) (11±05 vs. control group 19±09 mlO2.kg-1.min-1, p=0.005), reduced peak ventilatory (V̇E) (40±16 vs. control group 22±08 L/s, p=0.002) and reduced distance on 6MWT (416±94m vs. control group 523±95m, p=0.002). Furthermore, we analyzed ventilatory and metabolic behavior during 6MWT, patients with severe COVID-19, which showed a marked reduction in V̇O2 peak (mlO2.kg-1.min-1), V̇E (L/s) and heart rate (bpm) (Figure 1). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> After 26 months of hospital discharge from severe COVID-19, aerobic capacity, ventilatory, and metabolic function remain markedly reduced. <fig><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA5268/F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><graphic></graphic></fig>