BACKGROUND: Regular physical activity and higher cardiorespiratory (CR) fitness enhance immune function, possibly reducing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection severity. The aim was to assess the association between physical activity and self-reported CR fitness on COVID-19 infection characteristics. METHODS: Participants formerly testing positive for COVID-19 completed an online questionnaire measuring COVID-19 infection characteristics and complications, self-reported CR fitness level, physical activity, and sociodemographic and health-related characteristics. Self-reported CR fitness was determined as the pace to cover 4.8 km without becoming overly fatigued (with slow walking, brisk walking, jogging, and running corresponding to low, moderate, good, and excellent levels of fitness, respectively). RESULTS: A total of 263 individuals completed the survey. Compared with the lowest level of self-reported CR fitness, the odds of hospitalization significantly decreased by 64% (odds ratio = 0.36; 95% confidence interval, 0.13-0.98; P = .04) in individuals reporting the ability to maintain a brisk walk. In individuals reporting the ability to maintain a jogging pace, the further reduction in hospitalization was not significant (odds ratio = 0.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.05-1.04; P = .05). For COVID-19 symptom severity and number, there were no significant associations with self-reported CR fitness or physical activity levels. CONCLUSIONS: For individuals with low self-reported CR fitness, improving CR fitness represents a strategy to reduce the risk of hospitalization from COVID-19.
BACKGROUND: Regular physical activity and higher cardiorespiratory (CR) fitness enhance immune function, possibly reducing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection severity. The aim was to assess the association between physical activity and self-reported CR fitness on COVID-19 infection characteristics. METHODS: Participants formerly testing positive for COVID-19 completed an online questionnaire measuring COVID-19 infection characteristics and complications, self-reported CR fitness level, physical activity, and sociodemographic and health-related characteristics. Self-reported CR fitness was determined as the pace to cover 4.8 km without becoming overly fatigued (with slow walking, brisk walking, jogging, and running corresponding to low, moderate, good, and excellent levels of fitness, respectively). RESULTS: A total of 263 individuals completed the survey. Compared with the lowest level of self-reported CR fitness, the odds of hospitalization significantly decreased by 64% (odds ratio = 0.36; 95% confidence interval, 0.13-0.98; P = .04) in individuals reporting the ability to maintain a brisk walk. In individuals reporting the ability to maintain a jogging pace, the further reduction in hospitalization was not significant (odds ratio = 0.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.05-1.04; P = .05). For COVID-19 symptom severity and number, there were no significant associations with self-reported CR fitness or physical activity levels. CONCLUSIONS: For individuals with low self-reported CR fitness, improving CR fitness represents a strategy to reduce the risk of hospitalization from COVID-19.
Authors: Jaime Vásquez-Gómez; César Faúndez-Casanova; Ricardo Souza de Carvalho; Franklin Castillo-Retamal; Pedro Valenzuela Reyes; Yeny Concha-Cisternas; Pablo Luna-Villouta; Cristian Álvarez; Andrés Godoy-Cumillaf; Claudio Hernández-Mosqueira; Igor Cigarroa; Alex Garrido-Méndez; Carlos Matus-Castillo; Marcelo Castillo-Retamal; Ivana Leao Ribeiro Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-06-03 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Maurício Medeiros Lemos; Gustavo Rocha Cavalini; Carlos Renato Pugliese Henrique; Victor Augusto Santos Perli; Glória de Moraes Marchiori; Luciana Lozza de Moraes Marchiori; Ana Flávia Sordi; Solange Marta Franzói de Moraes; Solange de Paula Ramos; Pablo Valdés-Badilla; Jorge Mota; Braulio Henrique Magnani Branco Journal: Front Physiol Date: 2022-09-21 Impact factor: 4.755