Sistema FMUSP-HC: Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP) e Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSPASTLEY, CamillaPRADO, Danilo Marcelo Leite doSIECZKOWSKA, Sofia MendesESTEVES, Gabriel P.SUGUITA, PriscilaFINK, ThaisLINDOSO, LiviaMATSUO, OliviaMARTINS, FernandaBAIN, VeraPEREIRA, Maria Fernanda BadueMARQUES, Heloisa HelenaMALLUF, AdrianaLEAL, Gabriela NunesSILVA, Clovis ArturROSCHEL, HamiltonGUALANO, Bruno2024-02-152024-02-152023JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY, v.135, n.6, p.1323-1329, 20238750-7587https://observatorio.fm.usp.br/handle/OPI/57993This study aimed to compare cardiopulmonary fitness and endothelial function 6 months after hospital diagnosis in a sample mainly comprising immunocompromised patients with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection versus noninfected controls. Youth (n = 30; age: 14 yr; 60% females) with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 seen in a tertiary hospital of Sao Paulo, Brazil, were matched by propensity score based on BMI, age, sex, and pre-existing diseases with a control group who had not been tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 30; age: 15 yr; 50% females). Cardiopulmonary fitness (by means of a cardiopulmonary exercise test: CPET) and brachial flow-mediated dilation (%b-FMD) were assessed 3-6 mo after diagnosis. Patients were matched by propensity score based on BMI, age, sex and pre-existing diseases, if any, with a control group who had not been tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Compared with controls, patients with COVID-19 showed reduced ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT) and peak exercise time and minute ventilation/maximum voluntary ventilation (V_E/MVV) (all P < 0.01). Brachial endothelial function variables were all adjusted for body surface area (BSA). Patients with COVID-19 had decreased %b-FMD (3.6 vs. 5.4; P = 0.03) mean and positive flow (P = 0.02 and P = 0.03, respectively) versus controls. Adjusted linear regression models exploring associations between CPET variables, %b-FMD and the potential predictors post-COVID-19 syndrome, number of symptoms, hospitalization, and COVID severity did not detect significant associations, except for total shear rate in hospitalization (coefficient: -65.07 [95%CI -119.5;-10.5], P = 0.02). Immunocompromised and previously healthy children and adolescents with COVID-19 presented with impaired exercise capacity and endothelial dysfunction when compared with their noninfected counterparts, but the mechanisms remain unknown.engrestrictedAccessCOVID-19cardiovascular healthexercise testingpediatricsflow-mediated dilatationoxygen-uptakechildrendysfunctionefficiencymortalityadultsarticleCopyright AMER PHYSIOLOGICAL SOC10.1152/japplphysiol.00213.2023PhysiologySport Sciences1522-1601