Physical inactivity is associated with a higher risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes: a study in 48,440 adult patients.
OBJECTIVES
To compare hospitalization rates, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and mortality for patients with COVID-19 who were consistently inactive, doing some activity or consistently meeting physical activity guidelines.
METHODS
We identified 48,440 adult patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis from Jan 1, 2020 to October 21, 2020, with at least three exercise vital sign measurements from March 19, 2018 to March 18, 2020. We linked each patient’s self-reported physical activity category (consistently inactive = 0–10 min/ week, some activity = 11–149 min/week, consistently meeting guidelines = 150+ min/week) to the risk of hospitalization, ICU admission and death after COVID-19 diagnosis.
RESULTS
Patients with COVID-19 who were consistently inactive had a greater risk of hospitalization, admission to the ICU and death due to COVID-19 than patients who were consistently meeting physical activity guidelines.
Patients who were consistently inactive also had a greater risk of hospitalization, admission to the ICU and death due to COVID-19 than patients who were doing some physical activity.
CONCLUSIONS
Consistently meeting physical activity guidelines was strongly associated with a reduced risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes among infected adults. We recommend efforts to promote physical activity be prioritized by public health agencies and incorporated into routine medical care.
It seems reasonable, and we probably all knew what this study tells us deep down. But no matter, it feels good to have solid research behind the link of being physically active and reducing your risk of severe Covid-19 outcomes.
Now this study can be a convincing factor, but it still doesn’t make getting to the required amount of physical activity, or for that matter getting ANY physical activity easier.
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