Return to exercise after COVID-19. Statement of the Mexican Society of Cardiology

Norma Cerón-Enríquez, Clínica de Rehabilitación Cardiopulmonar, Hospital Ángeles Puebla, Puebla, México
Marianna García-Saldivia, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Ciudad de México, México
Jorge A. Lara-Vargas, Centro Médico Nacional 20 de Noviembre, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE), Ciudad de México, México
Juan P. Núñez-Urquiza, Miembro Titular de la Sociedad Mexicana de Cardiología; Especialista en Cardiología Clínica, Rehabilitación Cardiaca y Prevención Secundaria; Miembro Titular de la Sociedad Mexicana para el Cuidado del Corazón; Ciudad de México, México
Jesús Alonso-Sánchez, Servicio de Rehabilitación Cardiaca, Cardioactivo GDL, Guadalajara, Jal., México
J. Jesús Silva-Torres, Sociedad Mexicana de Cardiología, Ciudad de México, México
Juan C. Pérez-Gámez, Sociedad Mexicana de Cardiología, Ciudad de México, México
Nancy Pacheco-Beltrán, Sociedad Mexicana de Cardiología, Ciudad de México, México
Marco Alcocer-Gamba, Arritmias y Mesa directiva, Sociedad Mexicana de Cardiología (SMC), Ciudad de México, México

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020; one consequence has been the increase in sedentary lifestyle and reduction of sports activity. Exercise benefits the immune defense system especially in older adults; it is recommended to keep a distance of 1.5 meters between people, and if walking or jogging is carried out, the space must be up to 5 and 10 meters respectively. The reported cases are mostly mild up to 80% and can be critical in up to 4.7%; the risk factors are well known, hypertension, diabetes and previous heart disease. Severe or critical cases present as symptoms of acute respiratory distress syndrome, and in the case of cardiovascular disease, they mainly occur as myopericarditis, acute coronary syndromes, cardiogenic shock, thrombotic events, among others. Returning to exercise after recovery from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is always recommended, however it will depend on the clinical picture what measures should be taken prior to its onset, and it is in moderate cases and especially in the severe ones where the evaluation and prescription prior to returning to exercise or sport should be guided by medical personnel experts in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, especially in athletes.

Keywords: Exercise. COVID-19. Cardiac rehabilitation. Myocarditis. Physical activity. Sports.