AUTHOR=Morin Jean , Vallée Nicolas , Dufresne Pierre-Louis , Rives Sarah , Lehot Henri , Daubresse Lucille , Roffi Romain , Druelle Arnaud , Cungi Pierre-Julien , Blatteau Jean-Eric
TITLE=Symptomatic or asymptomatic SAR-CoV-2 positive divers should be medically evaluated before returning to scuba diving
JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology
VOLUME=13
YEAR=2022
URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.1022370
DOI=10.3389/fphys.2022.1022370
ISSN=1664-042X
ABSTRACT=Introduction: In order to allow the resumption of diving activities after a COVID-19 infection, French military divers are required to undergo a medical fitness to dive (FTD) assessment. We present here the results of this medical evaluation performed 1 month after the infection.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed between April 2020 and February 2021 200 records of divers suspected of COVID-19 contamination. Data collected included physical examination, ECG, blood biochemistry, chest CT scan and spirometry.
Results: 145 PCR-positive subjects were included, representing 8.5% of the total population of French military divers. Two divers were hospitalized, one for pericarditis and the other for non-hypoxemic pneumonia. For the other 143 divers, physical examination, electrocardiogram and blood biology showed no abnormalities. However 5 divers (3.4%) had persistent subjective symptoms including fatigability, exertional dyspnea, dysesthesias and anosmia. 41 subjects (29%) had significant decreases in forced expiratory flows at 25–75% and 50% on spirometry (n = 20) or bilateral ground-glass opacities on chest CT scan (n = 24). Only 3 subjects were affected on both spirometry and chest CT. 45% of these abnormalities were found in subjects who were initially asymptomatic or had non-respiratory symptoms. In case of abnormalities, normalization was obtained within 3 months. The median time to return to diving was 45 days (IQR 30, 64).
Conclusion: Our study confirms the need for standardized follow-up in all divers after COVID-19 infection and for maintaining a rest period before resuming diving activities.