Diving after SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection: Fitness to dive assessment and medical guidance

Sadler, Charlotte; Villela, Miguel Alvarez; Hoesen, Karen Van; Grover, Ian; Lang, Michael; Neuman, Tom S.; Lindholm, Peter

doi:10.28920/dhm50.3.278-287

Cited by 10 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Symptomatic severe cases the infection progresses into a bilateral viral pneumonia often leading to death. Lung damage occurs due to a massive inflammatory reaction coupled with the injury caused by assisted mechanical ventilation, high airway pressure and exposure to hyperoxia [3,4].…”

Section: Respiratory Complications Of Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Apart from electrocardiogram and echocardiogram, an exercise tolerance test to estimate maximum oxygen consumption should be performed. Oligosymptomatic cardiac inflammation could be unmasked by a higher physical effort and the stress associated with diving, thus resulting in dangerous arrhythmias or decompensated heart failure [2,4].…”

Section: Circulatory Complications Of Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In light of the above, the question arises whether or not the hypercoagulable state would predispose a diver who had COVID-19 to decompression sickness, which is considered a generalized inflammatory and pro-thrombotic condition. It seems unlikely that the hypercoagulable state could persist after the acute phase of the disease is over and when a patient has fully recovered from the infection [4].…”

Section: Thromboembolic Complications Of Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The spectrum of diagnostic tests which are necessary to evaluate an individual's health and fitness to dive will primarily depend on the course and the severity of a COVID-19 infection (Table 2). The recommendations of the European Underwater and Baromedical Society (EUBS) and the European Committee for Hyperbaric Medicine (ECHM) [4] with respect to recreational and commercial diving after SARS-CoV-2 pandemic are as follows: -divers who have tested positive for COVID-19, but were asymptomatic, are recommended to wait at least 1 month before they return to diving; -divers who had symptoms of a COVID-19 infection, but did not require hospital treatment, should wait at least three months before having their fitness to dive assessed by a hyperbaric medicine/diving doctor; -divers with a COVID-19 infection who required hospital treatment due to pulmonary symptoms are recommended to wait at least 3 months before having their fitness to dive assessed under the supervision of a hyperbaric medicine/diving doctor; their fitness to dive examination should include a full lung function evaluation, including exercise tolerance test with oxygen saturation and chest CT; -divers with COVID-19 who required hospital treatment due to cardiac symptoms must wait at least 3 months before they can be examined by a hyperbaric medicine/diving doctor; their fitness to dive assessment should include a full cardiac evaluation including echocardiogram and exercise echocardiogram [11]. Commercial divers who have developed symptoms of a COVID-19 infection and have abnormal test results should be declared 'unfit to dive', while recreational divers should be strongly discouraged from resuming diving activities.…”

Section: Current Recommendations For Divers After Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Understanding the pathophysiology of COVID-19 is critical to ensuring diving safety; the infection does not only increase the risk of pulmonary barotrauma and arterial gas embolism, but it also raises the susceptibility to decompression sickness or pulmonary edema due to cardiological, pulmonary and hematological changes. In fact, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may contribute to improving the quality of diving fitness health assessment [1][2][3][4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Medical assessment of fitness to dive after COVID-19

Krzyżak¹,

Korzeniewski

2021

International Maritime Health

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Section: Respiratory Complications Of Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Circulatory Complications Of Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Thromboembolic Complications Of Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Current Recommendations For Divers After Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Medical assessment of fitness to dive after COVID-19

Krzyżak¹,

Korzeniewski

2021

International Maritime Health

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Development, design and experience of the UK Military’s return to diving pathway following SARS-CoV-2 infection

McPhail¹,

Steed²,

Holdsworth

et al. 2022

BMJ Mil Health

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After the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in early 2020, it quickly became clear that symptomatic or asymptomatic infection had the potential to negatively impact on an individual’s fitness to dive through effects on the respiratory, cardiovascular or neurological systems. The significance of these effects in the military diving environment was initially unclear due to an absence of data concerning incidence, chronology or severity. In order to safely return divers to the water and maintain operational capability, the UK Military developed a pathway for SARS-CoV-2 positive divers that stratified risk of sequelae and extent of required clinical investigation, while minimising reliance on viral testing and hospital-based investigations. We present this process, provide rationale and support for its design and detail the number of SARS-CoV-2 positive divers who have been returned to full diving fitness following infection of varying degrees of severity.

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The knowledge, attitude, and practice towards coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among scuba divers in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

et al. 2021

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Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) among scuba divers in Saudi Arabia towards equipment infection control measures, protective guidelines measures and potential post COVID-19 infection complications. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a pre-validated questionnaire was conducted. The questionnaire consisted of 35 close-ended questions, which covered the scuba divers’ profile and experience, the KAP of COVID-19 precautionary measures during diving activities as well as the demographic data and background of the scuba divers. KAP scores were subjected to non-parametric tests of statistical significance (Mann Whitney and Kruskal Wallis test). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Most of the 461 participants’ answers were in agreeance on the proper KAP of infection control during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a statistically significant difference in attitude between all the demographic and professional variables (p<0.05) except for gender and region of residence (p>0.05). In addition, there was a statistically significant practice difference among age groups, education levels, and employee status in the diving center (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our findings showed that scuba divers presented a good level of KAP of infection control measures against the spread of the coronavirus disease. Local officials and diving organizations need to continue their efforts in combating and control the spread of this pandemic.

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Diving after SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection: Fitness to dive assessment and medical guidance

Cited by 10 publications

References 32 publications

Medical assessment of fitness to dive after COVID-19

Medical assessment of fitness to dive after COVID-19

Development, design and experience of the UK Military’s return to diving pathway following SARS-CoV-2 infection

The knowledge, attitude, and practice towards coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among scuba divers in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

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