EXERCISE TOLERANCE IN POST-SARS-COV-2 PATIENTS WITH ISCHEMIC CARDIOPATHY

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Post-COVID-19 syndrome is defined by clinical signs and symptoms persisting more than 12 weeks after SARS-COV-2 infection. Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is defined as coronary artery obstruction or dysfunction resulting in myocardial tissue ischaemia and hypoxia. Exercise tolerance is reduced due to the sequelae of fatigue, dyspnoea, joint pain or the development of IC. <bold>Objective:</bold> To assess exercise tolerance in subjects with IC and post-COVID-19. <bold>Methods:</bold> Patients >18 years old with POST-COVID-19 who required hospitalisation during the acute phase were included in a cross-sectional study. Patients who did not agree to participate or died before POST-COVID-19 care were excluded. A 6-minute walk and hand strength assessed exercise tolerance. <bold>Results:</bold> A total of 600 patients were included. The age of the population was 52.1 ± 13.4 years; 63.8% were male. Subjects with IQ were older (62.2 ± 13.8 vs 51.3 ± 13.1, p=0.001) and hypertensive (55.8% vs 34.52%, p=0.005) (Table 1). (Table 1). In terms of functional capacity, subjects with IC presented more significant fatigue (53.4% vs. 37.7%, p=0.041), diastolic blood pressure (75.4 ± 9.7 vs. 79.8 ± 8.5 p=0.001) as well as lower strength (21.8 ± 10.3 vs. 25.5 ± 9.1 p= 0.020), and metres walked (14.2 ± 136.5 vs. 469.0 ± 114.3, p=0.002) (table 2). Discussion: Low exercise tolerance in patients with IC and POST-COVID-19 syndrome is attributed to secondary fatigue and decreased lung and muscle function. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Patients with IC and POST-COVID-19 have decreased exercise tolerance.