Objectives: The clinical consequences of coronavirus infection in elite judokas with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) are unclear. We aimed to determine potential respiratory function abnormalities and recovery in athletes with and without EIB after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Türkiye Olympic Preparation Centre. Participants: This retrospective study analyzed data collected from 25 consecutive elite judokas diagnosed with and without EIB and SARS-CoV-2 infection, routinely followed at an Olympic Sports Center between September 2020 and 2021. Independent Variables: Respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function data were collected before and up to 90 days after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Main Outcome Measures: Measurements included maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC ratio, and peak expiratory flow (PEF). Results: Infected athletes with EIB had more markedly reduced respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function than those without EIB. Maximal inspiratory pressure was decreased by 14% and MEP by 8% from baseline in infected athletes with EIB during follow-up. Likewise, FEV1 and FVC decreased by 4%. Maximal inspiratory pressure, MEP, FEV1, and FVC remained abnormal after 90 days of SARS-CoV-2 infection in EIB athletes but normalized rapidly in non-EIB athletes. Peak expiratory flow seemed unaffected during follow-up. Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction severity was moderately correlated with the maximum fall in MEP during follow-up. Conclusions: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection notably decreases respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function in judokas, especially those with pre-existing EIB, thereby prolonging spontaneous recovery time.
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