(STUDY) Exercise dramatically lowers risks for Covid-19 complications

The following is an excerpt from The Vaccine Reaction.

A new study published last week in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that exercise of any amount had a protective effect on risk of hospitalization and death from infection with SARS-CoV-2 and symptoms of Covid-19.

This retrospective cohort study follows 25 previous studies that also reported strong associations between mortality and hospitalization, and physical inactivity.

Using the records of patients enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Southern California, researchers examined 194,191 adults who had a positive Covid-19 test between January 2020 and May 2021 and had self-reported their exercise patterns at least three times in the two years before contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus using the Exercise Vital Sign (EVS) tool. 

Over half of the participants had a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, 21 percent had a diagnosis of hypertension, and over nine percent (nine percent) were diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.

More Activity Results in Better Covid Outcomes

This study showed stepwise higher odds of developing SARS-COV-2 complications and adverse Covid outcomes with each increment in physical inactivity, and a consistent dose‒response association across physical activity categories. 

The strongest association was found between the “always active” with the “always inactive” categories. 

Patients in the “always inactive” category had 91 percent higher odds of hospitalization, 139 percent higher odds of a “deteriorating event” and 291 percent higher odds of death than patients in the “always active” category. 

Results were generally consistent across sex, race and ethnicity, age, and BMI categories.

Why This Study is Important

The relationship between physical activity and outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 infections for those with chronic conditions and across other sociodemographic factors had not been widely studied.

“Regardless of demographic factors and common chronic health conditions, results suggest that reducing physical inactivity may be one pathway to lowering the odds of adverse Covid outcomes.

The benefits of reducing physical inactivity should lead to its recommendation as an additional coronavirus pandemic control strategy for all, regardless of demographics or chronic disease status,” the study authors conclude.

Dangerous Sedentary Lifestyle at All-Time High

A Mayo Clinic analysis of 13 studies concluded that sitting time and activity levels found in those who sat for more than eight hours a day with no physical activity had a risk of dying similar to the risks of dying posed by obesity and smoking.

Sedentary jobs have increased 83 percent since 1950 according to the American Heart Association. 

Twenty-five percent of Americans spend more than eight hours a day sitting, and according to a United Nations report, the U.S. ranks 143 out of 168 countries surveyed in terms of physical fitness—40 percent of Americans do not meet the minimum suggested guidelines for physical activity of 2.5 hours of moderate activity weekly.

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