Comparison of Some Immune and Blood Factors in Athletes with COVID-19 and Healthy Athletes

Subject Areas : Physiology of exercise

Musaalreza Barjasteh mayvan ¹ , Mohsen Tavakoli ^{2 *}

1 - Department of Physical Education, Boj. C., Islamic Azad University, Bojnourd, Iran
2 - 1 Department of Physical Education, Boj. C., Islamic Azad University, Bojnourd, Iran.

Received: 2024-12-18 Accepted : 2025-03-06 Published : 2025-03-19

Keywords: COVID-19, Athlete, White Blood Cell, Red Blood Cell,

Abstract :

Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare some immune and blood factors in athletes with a history of COVID-19 and healthy athletes.

Methods: For this purpose, 40 athletes were divided into two groups, with COVID-19 and healthy athletes. The subjects in the COVID-19 athlete group had symptoms of the disease and a positive test result for COVID-19, and the subjects in the healthy athlete group were selected through a call from city-wide clubs. After conducting interviews and obtaining the subjects' consent, immune and blood factors were measured, including the number of white blood cells, the number of red blood cells, the ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes, the number of monocytes and the number of neutrophils, and the number of lymphocytes were taken in four milliliters of blood from the brachial vein. The number of white blood cells and their subtypes was measured using an auto analyzer (based on the principle of electrical resistance and platelets), and the red blood cell count was measured using the H1-CBC method, which is a more accurate method than the conventional method. To ensure that the difference between groups was not significant, one-way analysis of variance test was used, and to determine the difference between groups, Bonferroni post hoc test was performed at a significance level of P≤0.05 using SPSS software.

Results: The results showed that the rate of changes in the factors of white blood cell count, red blood cell count, neutrophil, lymphocyte, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte in the athlete groups increased significantly compared to the control group (P≤0.05).Also, their rate increased in the group of athletes with COVID compared to the group of healthy athletes (P≤0.05).

Conclusions: the levels of immune and blood factors in athletes with COVID-19 and healthy athletes increased more than in healthy inactive individuals, indicating the effect of a dynamic and active lifestyle on individuals.

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