An active lifestyle may be one of the best defenses against COVID-19, according to a new study that revealed inactivity contributes to higher rates of death among infected patients.
The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, compared hospital rates, ICU admissions and mortality for COVID patients who were inactive, doing some activity or consistently meeting physical activity guidelines. In total, nearly 50,000 patients were part of the study.
Patients who were consistently inactive had a greater risk of hospitalization, ICU admissions and death. Those who consistently met physical activity guidelines has lower odds of severe COVID infections and admission rates. Even those who were somewhat active had better odds than the inactive cohort.
“Consistently meeting physical activity guidelines was strongly associated with a reduced risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes among infected adults,” wrote first author Robert Sallis, MD, Department of Family and Sports Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, et al. “We recommend efforts to promote physical activity be prioritized by public health agencies and incorporated into routine medical care.”
The findings could help inform public health officials as they make health safety recommendations for the public. The results also present clear actions to take, though barriers to physical activity have increased due to lockdown measures.
“We recommend that public health authorities inform all populations that short of vaccination and following public health safety guidelines such as social distancing and mask use, engaging in regular [physical activity] may be the single most important action individuals can take to prevent severe COVID-19 and its complications, including death,” Sallis et al wrote.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."