Data Sheet 1_Aerobic capacity, strength, and cognitive performance of e-sports athletes and their determinants.pdf

Aim<p>To characterize the physical and cognitive performance of professional e-sports athletes (E-SG) and compare them with healthy university students (CG).</p>Methods<p>Physical performance was assessed cross-sectionally by handgrip strength (HGS) and % predicted V̇O₂ at peak and anaerobic threshold (V̇O₂peak% and V̇O₂AT%) of an incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test. Computer-based tests were used to evaluate memory and reaction time.

Using a comprehensive health assessment, we investigated the determinants of physical and cognitive performance and how they related to ranking at the most recent championship.</p>Results<p>Sixty-four male participants (34 E-SG; 30 CG) were included. Age, body composition, and blood test results did not differ between the groups. E-SG demonstrated higher sedentary time (p < 0.001), reduced HGS (47.23 ± 8.69 kgf vs. 42.8 ± 8.88 kgf; p = 0.027), and worse V̇O₂peak% compared to CG (106.7 ± 13.49 vs. 86.4 ± 12.05; p < 0.001) and V̇O₂AT% (86.00 ± 13.35 vs. 68.5 ± 13.56; p < 0.001).