A Possible Preventive Role of Physically Active Lifestyle during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic; Might Regular Cold-Water Swimming and Exercise Reduce the Symptom Severity of COVID-19?

Viktor Bielik,Martin Kolisek,Marian Grendar

doi:10.3390/ijerph18137158

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence and course of COVID-19 and the risk of an upper respiratory tract infection in a group of people with physically active lifestyles. Data were collected anonymously using an online survey platform during December 2020. The age of participants ranged from 18 to 65 years. Out of 2343 participants, 11.5% overcame COVID-19 infection. Relative to the control group (CTRL), physically active, cold-water swimmers (PACW) did not exhibit a lower risk of incidence for COVID-19 (RR 1.074, CI 95% (0.710–1.625). However, PACW had a higher chance of having an asymptomatic course of COVID-19 (RR 2.321, CI 95% (0.836–6.442); p < 0.05) and a higher chance of only having an acute respiratory infection once or less per year than CTRL (RR 1.923, CI 95% (1.1641–2.253); p < 0.01). Furthermore, PACW exhibited a lower incidence of acute respiratory infection occurring more than twice per year (RR 0.258, CI 95% (0.138–0.483); p < 0.01). Cold-water swimming and physical activity may not lessen the risk of COVID-19 in recreational athletes. However, a physically active lifestyle might have a positive effect on the rate of incidence of acute respiratory infection and on the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.

Highlights

IntroductionThe taking of a cold-water bath together with winter or ice swimming has long been a tradition in northern countries [1]
We aimed to examine whether COVID-19-infected cold-water swimmers and athletes experienced milder symptoms than a sedentary control group
We performed a cross-sectional study with the aim of identifying/deciphering any effects of a physically active lifestyle on the prevention of COVID-19 and/or acute respiratory infections

Summary

Introduction

The taking of a cold-water bath together with winter or ice swimming has long been a tradition in northern countries [1]. Until a few years ago, cold-water swimming was practiced by a very close community of enthusiasts. Today, it is a popular sport and recreational activity around the world, with 50 countries having branches of the International Ice Swimming Association (IISA) [2]. A substantial part of the human body or the whole body is immersed in a bath of cold or ice-containing water for a limited duration. Evidence suggests that repeated cold-water therapy has a wide variety of health benefits [3,4,5] and that winter swimming has a positive impact on the immune system [1]

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