The effect of mild to moderate COVID-19 infection on the cardiorespiratory fitness of firefighters

Abstract

Introduction: An adequate level of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is critical for firefighters to perform the strenuous and physiologically demanding work of firefighting safely and effectively. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been shown to negatively impact CRF in both the acute phase and longer-term following infection. This study aimed to determine changes to the CRF of firefighters pre- to post-mild to moderate COVID-19 infection and to investigate the impact of days past COVID-19 infection on change in CRF.

Methods: CRF measures from cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) at annual occupational health exams that occurred pre-COVID-19 infection in 2019 were obtained for firefighters from seven Arizona fire departments. Measures were compared to CPET evaluations from annual health exams the following year in a cohort of firefighters who self-reported mild to moderate illness following COVID-19 infection between exams.

Results: Among a cohort of 103 firefighters, mean age 40 ± 9 years, CRF [as measured by peak oxygen consumption (VO₂)] declined by an average of 2.55 ml·kg^-1·min^-1 or 7.3% (d = -0.38, p < 0.001) following COVID-19 infection (mean time from COVID-19 infection to CPET was 110 ± 78 days). The number of days past COVID-19 infection showed a small, yet significant, relationship to peak VO₂ (r = 0.250, p = 0.011). Estimated marginal effects indicated that when biological sex, age, and BMI are controlled for, predicted peak VO₂ returned to pre-COVID-19 values ~300 days after COVID-19 infection.

Conclusion: Peak VO₂ (ml·kg^-1·min^-1) declined 7.3% among firefighters an average of 110 days past reporting mild to moderate COVID-19 infection. This decrease has implications for the operational readiness and safety of firefighters.

Keywords: COVID-19; cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET); cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF); firefighters; firefighting.