Abstract
Restriction of physical activity (PA) causes reduction in lean body-mass, fat-mass accumulation and decrease in aerobic capacity. Fitness monitor data show change of PA profile but not necessarily decrease in PA.
It is not clear what was the net effect of lockdown. Methods: 30 patients with maximal exercise test (CPET) before lockdown were identified, 10 patients (5 women, age 22,0 +- 9,3 years) agreed to participate on second CPET with identical protocol just after lockdown.
Results: no significant change in VO2max (40,1 +- 9,9 resp. 40,3 +- 10,6 ml.min-1.kg-1, p = 0,856) andWmax (3,0 +- 0,6 resp. 3,0 +- 0,8 W.kg-1, p = 0,727), but there was increase in body weight (62,8 +- 13,0 kg resp. 64,2 +- 13,3 kg, p = 0,004). Discussion: no change inVO2max may be due to increased motivation to reach maximal test in second CPET which contradicts presence of VO2 plateau.
It is possible that patients compensated decrease in regular PA so there was no change in lean body-mass. Main limitation of study is small sample size and younger age which make extrapolation to high-risk patient groups difficult.
Conclusion: significant weight gain was not followed by decrease in VO2max andWmax. It is reasonable to actively increase PA level in high-risk patient groups and maybe even to organize inactivity screening during lockdown.