Physical Activity After Covid-19 Part 1: Limited Recovery Of Physical Activity 9 Months Post-infection

Abstract

Little is known about the return to baseline physical activity after COVID-19 infection. Half of those with prolonged symptoms [“long haulers”] report difficulty exercising, making it one of the most common lingering complaints. PURPOSE: To document, via surveys, patients’ return to physical activity after COVID-19 infection. METHODS: 8,000 patients who had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus between March and May 2020 within a large healthcare system in the greater New York City area were contacted. Patients who agreed to participate completed a 13-item Physical Activity History [PAH] regarding their physical activity during the 3-months prior to infection and for the most recent month [December 2020]. PAH categorizes moderate PA as <5 METS/min and heavy as ≥5 METS/min and computes a score scaled by time at METS*month/min. PA was analyzed using ANOVA. RESULTS: 381 patients volunteered [171 men, 210 women, age 53 ± 14 yr (19-89), BMI 29.0 ± 6.5 (15.2-53.3)]; 121 [32%] had been hospitalized [14 ± 21 days]. At 264 ± 7 days post COVID-19 diagnosis, PA scores for moderate, heavy and total activity respectively, were significantly reduced from pre-diagnosis levels: 19 ± 13 to 15 ± 12, 25 ± 20 to 20 ± 23, and 44 ± 34 to 35 ± 31 METS*month/min [p < 0.001for each]. The reduction in PA did not differ between sexes. Hospitalized subjects had lower initial PA than non-hospitalized [p = 0.002], not differing according to age [age, p = 0.738; time x age. p = 0.665]. Of those reporting pre-diagnosis PA > 0 [346], 50% reported >20% reduction in PA [see table]. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 patients reported reduced PA compared to pre-diagnosis. The loss of PA was similar in men and women. In half the patients, PA was reduced by more than 20%. COVID-19 patients who required hospitalization reported lower pre-diagnosis PA. These data suggest that patients may have difficulty returning to previous levels of activity following COVID-19 and that habitual PA may reduce the severity of illness.