The long-term impact of COVID-19 on the physical activity, motor fitness, and maximum heart rate values of female university students

Abstract Aim This study examined the relationship between COVID-19 and the maximum heart rate (HR max ) achieved by female university students during maximal physical effort. It also analyzed how participants’ physical activity (PA) levels and anthropometric and physiological characteristics were related to HR max 10 months after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that COVID-19 was no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Materials and methods Eighty-two female university students aged 19.0–28.0 years (21.23 ± 1.57) were assigned to three groups: G 1 – 40 healthy participants, G 2 – 29 participants with confirmed COVID-19, and G 3 – 13 participants previously hospitalized due to COVID-19. Body composition was evaluated by bioelectrical impedance analysis. PA was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and HR max was measured during the 12-min Cooper test performed on a rowing ergometer. Results Healthy students (G 1 ) showed the highest PA levels, followed by groups G 2 and G 3 . Group G 1 also exhibited more favorable body composition, with lower values of body mass, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, visceral fat, fat mass, fat-free mass, and skeletal muscle mass ( p < 0.001). Maximum heart rate was highest in group G 1 (175 beats per minute, bpm) and exceeded the values noted in groups G 2 and G 3 by 7 and 15 bpm, respectively ( p = 0.028). Conclusions Female students hospitalized due to COVID-19 had lower PA levels, reduced motor fitness, and worse body composition, which may explain their lower HR max values observed 10 months after the pandemic.