Physical activity has beneficial effects on a number of physiological systems that are most affected by COVID-19 in the event of disease, as well as beneficial effects on human immunity, metabolism and mental health. Last year's studies revealed a link between a lack of physical activity and severe COVID-19.
More specifically, there is a link between physical activity and COVID-19 performance. At the start of the pandemic, researchers in the United Kingdom found that unhealthy lifestyles, including physical inactivity, increased the risk of hospitalization for COVID-19. Another study found that the need for hospitalization for COVID-19 was more than three times higher in people with minimal levels of physical activity than in those with maximum levels of physical activity.
Today, the academic journal The BMJ announced a new study that found physical inactivity to be a major risk factor for severe COVID-19, including hospitalization, treatment in the intensive care unit, and even death.
The study analyzed data from 48,440 adult patients with COVID-19 between 1 January 2020 and 21 October 2020 who had at least two or more Exercise Vital Sign [1] measurements in their health records from 2018 onwards. March to March 2020.
Exercise Vital Sign is a measure of physical activity that has been included in the Kaiser Permanente Patient Health Records since 2009 in Southern California. It is calculated from the patient's frequency and duration of physical activity per week, at moderate or high levels of physical activity, and is included in the patient's health record. Based on EVS measurements, 6.4% of patients in the study were permanently active; 14.4% were permanently inactive; while the remaining 79.2% were irregular assets.
Physical inactivity is closely linked to the results of COVID-19 - regular physical activity can protect against the virus.
People with no physical activity are more than twice as likely to be hospitalized for severe COVID-19 than those who have regular physical activity.
Inactive people were 1.73 times more likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit and 2.49 times more likely to die.
"This is a reminder of the importance of a healthy lifestyle and, in particular, physical activity. Kaiser Permanente's motivation is to keep people healthy, and this study really shows how important this is during and outside of this pandemic. People who exercise regularly have the highest chance of developing COVID-19, while inactive people do much worse. "
- Says Roberts Sallis, M.D., one of the leading researchers in the study and a member of the IHRSA Medical, Scientific and Health Advisory Council.
The results of this study appear to indicate physical inactivity as the major risk factor for modification of COVID-19 severity. In addition, physical inactivity is a risk factor that can be improved in a shorter period of time than other risk factors, such as being overweight or due to a more chronic illness.
Given the importance of physical activity not only for physics but also for human mental health, as well as the fact that it reduces the risk of severe COVID-19, appropriate physical activity should be a priority for the relevant national authorities during these months of recovery and recovery.
In its 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behavior, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a 'system-wide' approach to policies and a range of activities that can help more people to be physically active, involving a wide range of stakeholders.
in multiple sectors and settings. The 'systems' approach, in line with the sustainable communication strategy, ensures that the increased demand for physical activity from effective communication is provided through the provision of an environment and the ability of people to be physically active. The 2006 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary lifestyles recommend an 'integrated system' approach, involving a wide range of stakeholders - governments, organizations, associations - to help and motivate people to be physically active.
The 'system' approach, which is in line with a sustainable communication strategy, is increasing the demand for physical activity. Further, this approach must provide a suitable environment and opportunities for people to be physically active.
Article in original language: Study Finds Inactivity a Key Risk Factor for Severe COVID-19 | IHRSA
Exercise Vital Sign (EVS) can be easily calculated and entered into patient records as total minutes of physical activity per week.
1. On average, how many days a week do you engage in moderate to high levels of physical activity (such as walking fast)?
On average, how many minutes of physical activity do you do at this level?
1 X 2 = total physical activity minutes per week = EVS
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