Investigating the relationship between the level of physical activity and the severity of the disease of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients

The current cross-sectional study was conducted with the aim of investigating the relationship between physical activity and the severity of the COVID-19 disease in hospitalized patients.

The statistical sample of the study consisted of 295 people with COVID-19 who voluntarily participated in this study. The subjects included 104 critically ill patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) and 191 patients without severe complications not hospitalized in the ICU. Physical activity was assessed using the short form of the Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Evaluation of food intake was done using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) of 147 items.

The results of this study showed an inverse and significant relationship between physical activity and weight items (P < 0.001) and body mass index (P < 0.001) of patients. Also, patients with more physical activity had significantly higher levels of venous oxygen (P = 0.001) and bicarbonate (P = 0.028). The results of this study after adjusting for possible confounding factors showed that in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, the amount of physical activity is not related to the severity of the disease (P=0.098). Although subgroup analysis based on gender showed an inverse relationship between physical activity and disease severity in women with COVID-19 (P=0.010, CI: 0.040-0.479, OR: 0.045).

It seems that proper physical activity has been able to play a decisive role in the prevention and management of women suffering from the severe form of the disease of COVID-19. More studies are needed in order to draw more precise conclusions in this field.