The Impact of COVID-19 on the Response to Hypoxia

Louis, Alexandre, Charlotte Pröpper, Yann Savina, Corentin Tanne, Guy Duperrex, Paul Robach, Pascal Zellner, Stéphane Doutreleau, Jean-Michel Boulet, Alain Frey, Fabien Pillard, Cristina Pistea, Mathias Poussel, Thomas Thuet, Jean-Paul Richalet, and François Lecoq-Jammes. The impact of COVID-19 on the response to hypoxia. High Alt Med Biol. 24:321–328, 2023. Background: Severe high-altitude illness (SHAI) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), while differing in most aspects of pathophysiology, both involve respiratory capacity. We examined the long-term impact of COVID-19 on response to hypoxia in individuals free of symptoms but having tested positive during the pandemic. The need for recommendations for such individuals planning a stay at high altitude are discussed. Methods: This multicenter study recruited participants from the multiSHAI cohort, all of whom had previously undergone a hypoxic exercise test. These participants were classified into two groups depending on whether they had since suffered mild-to-moderate COVID-19 (COVID+) or not (Control) and then asked to retake the test. Primary outcomes were: desaturation induced by hypoxia at exercise (DSpE), hypoxic cardiac response at exercise, hypoxic ventilatory response at exercise, and SHAI risk score. Results: A total of 68 participants retook the test, 36 classified in the COVID+ group. Analyses of primary outcomes showed no significant differences between groups. However, the COVID+ group showed significantly increased ventilation (VE) parameters during both hypoxic (p = 0.003) and normoxic exercise (p = 0.007). However, only the VE/oxygen consumption relationship during hypoxic exercise was significantly different. Conclusion: This study demonstrates no negative impact of COVID-19 on response to hypoxia as evaluated by the Richalet test. Clinical Trial Registration: NTC number: NCT05167357.