Evaluating the Relationship between Lifestyle and COVID-19 Severity in Patients Admitted to Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman, Iran (2020-2021): A Case-Control Study

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the COVID-19 severity and lifestyle among hospitalized patients at Afzali Pour Hospital, Kerman, Iran.

A total of 289 patients with severe COVID-19 infection (with ICU admission or death) and 293 patients with non-severe type (discharged with no need for hospitalization in ICU) were selected in 2020-2021, and their lifestyle was compared in the last year before the hospitalization.

The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for severe disease was 1.83 (95% CI: 1.24-2.69) in males compared to females, and 4.35 (95% CI:2.20- 8.59) for people older than 60 years compared to age less than 60. The linear effect of average hours of sleeping during a day was 1.21 (95% CI: 1.08-1.36). The ORs of people who had considerable physical activity at work and people with little activity compared to people who mostly sit in a fixed place were 0.35 (95% CI:0.19-0.65) and 0.44 (95% CI:0.23-0.83), respectively. The use of opioids, traditional remedies, and supplements such as vitamin C raised the risk of severe disease, but the use of vitamin D supplements reduced the risk of severe disease, although this was not statistically significant.

It seems that some aspects of lifestyle, such as lack of physical activity, excessive sleep, and consumption of certain substances, such as opioids, might increase the risk of contracting severe and deadly forms of COVID-19.