Association between Physical Activity Amount and Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Sleep Quality, and Health-related Quality of Life in Patients with Long COVID: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between physical activity (PA) amount and gender differences on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), sleep quality, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in individuals with long COVID. DesignCross-sectional study. SettingAn integrated outpatient clinic for post-COVID-19 at a medical center. ParticipantsConvenience sample of patients (N=264) diagnosed with long COVID. InterventionsNot applicable. Main Outcome MeasuresPA amounts, sleep quality, and HRQoL were measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the World Health Organization Questionnaire on Quality of Life: Short Form, respectively. CRF was evaluated through graded exercise testing. ResultsThe participants had a mean age of 42.5±13.5 years and a mean duration of post-COVID-19 symptoms of 12.7±6.8 weeks. More than half (n=149, 56.5%) were female patients. Female participants had significantly lower CRF compared to male participants (P<.05). Older age and higher body mass index were associated with worse CRF and HRQoL (P<.05). Less sitting behavior and greater amounts of vigorous-intensity physical activity (VPA) or total PA were associated with better CRF (P<.05). In addition, greater total PA and moderate-intensity physical activity (MPA) were associated with better sleep quality and HRQoL (P<.05), respectively. ConclusionsGender differences were found in CRF among patients with long COVID. Greater self-reported VPA or total PA was associated with better CRF, while greater total PA and MPA were associated with better sleep quality and HRQoL, respectively, in patients with long COVID. Further research is needed to explore these associations in longitudinal studies.