Return to sports after COVID-19: a position paper from the Dutch Sports Cardiology Section of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology

G C Verwoert,J A Snoek,J K Jongman,A R Willems,R Rienks,H T Jorstad,S T De Vries,N Bijsterveld,H M C Kemps,R Vd Borgh

doi:10.1007/s12471-020-01469-z

G C Verwoert, J A Snoek + Show 8 more

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-020-01469-z

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Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to preventive measures worldwide. With the decline of infection rates, less stringent restrictions for sports and exercise are being implemented. COVID-19 is associated with significant cardiovascular complications; however there are limited data on cardiovascular complications and long-term outcomes in both competitive (elite) athletes and highly active individuals. Based on different categories of disease severity (asymptomatic, regional/systemic symptoms, hospitalisation, myocardial damage, and/or myocarditis), in this point-of-view article we offer the (sports) cardiologist or sports physician in the Netherlands a practical guide to pre-participation screening, and diagnostic and management strategies in all athletes >16 years of age after COVID-19 infection.

Highlights

With the implementation of less stringent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions for sports and exercise, healthcare professionals are faced with an increasing number of athletes—both competitive athletes and highly active individuals (>3 h/week of exercise)—seeking return-to-sports advice after recovery from COVID-19
Based on different categories of disease severity, in this point-of-view article we offer the cardiologist or sports physician in the Netherlands a practical guide to pre-participation screening (PPS), and clinical management strategies in competitive athletes and highly active individuals >16 years of age after COVID-19
The optimal approach to sports resumption in these individuals is unclear, as data are lacking on cardiovascular complications and cardiac injury in patients with mild or asymptomatic COVID-19

Summary

Introduction

With the implementation of less stringent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions for sports and exercise, healthcare professionals are faced with an increasing number of athletes—both competitive (elite) athletes and highly active individuals (>3 h/week of exercise)—seeking return-to-sports advice after recovery from COVID-19. Keywords COVID-19 · Sports · Exercise · Myocarditis · Recommendations R. Rienks Central Military Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands can College of Cardiology’s Sports and Exercise Cardiology Council, have recently been published [1, 2].

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