Sequelae of COVID-19 With Focus on Exercise Capacity and Underlying Mechanisms

COVID-19 Severity, Long-term Consequences for Exercise Capacity and Link to Associated Mechanisms

The project is designed as a cross-sectional study and aims to examine long-term consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) for selected bio-behavioural parameters while taking the disease course severity into account.

Inclusion Criteria:

• tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 using antigen- or PCR tests within the last 18 months
• previous hospitalisation due to COVID-19
• fully vaccinated (only for controls)

Exclusion Criteria:

• inability to follow the study procedures (e.g. due to language barriers, psychological disorders, dementia, etc.),
• known pregnancy or lactating women,
• presence of any contraindications for exercising until maximum exhaustion, including insufficient blood pressure control (systolic >170 mmHg, diastolic >100 mmHg), ongoing cancer treatment, unstable angina pectoris, uncontrolled bradyarrhythmia or tachyarrhythmia, severe uncorrected valvular heart disease, clinically relevant acute infection, any form of musculoskeletal injury,
• participating in any interventional clinical trial within the last four weeks,
• previous participation in the current study
• history of symptomatic COVID-19 (only for controls)