COVID-19 – does exercise prescription and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) have a role in risk-stratifying patients?
Irfan Ahmed
Abstract
<h3>ABSTRACT</h3> As the UK shields ‘high risk’ patients and enforces social distancing measures, patients will be at risk of significantly reducing physical activity levels. We explore the evidence base for COVID-19-specific recommendations and exercise interventions to ‘precondition’ patients prior to infection and appraise the role of maximal oxygen uptake (VO<sub>2</sub> max) as a risk-stratifying triage tool. We conclude that structured exercise programmes can be used to maintain physical activity levels and prevent deconditioning and that VO<sub>2</sub> max has the potential to be used as a clinically relevant triage tool during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Topics & Concepts
MedicineCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)VO2 maxExercise prescriptionMedical prescription2019-20 coronavirus outbreakSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Internal medicinePhysical therapyCardiologyPharmacologyHeart rateVirologyDiseaseBlood pressureOutbreakInfectious disease (medical specialty)Cardiovascular and exercise physiologyHigh Altitude and HypoxiaChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research