Abstract
Lockdown measures including the closure of physical activity facilities were installed against the spread of the novel coronavirus in March 2020. The aim of the current online survey was to assess the lockdown effects on physical activity in German adults. We assessed physical activity using the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) questionnaire. Pre-lockdown vs. lockdown differences were tested with the Χ2 test and the Student’s t-test for paired data. Predictor variables to explain compliance with physical activity recommendations were identified using a fixed effects binary logistic regression analysis. Data of 979 respondents were analyzed. Transport related and leisure time physical activity decreased (p < 0.001, d = 0.16; p < 0.001, d = 0.22, respectively). Compliance with physical activity recommendations decreased from 38.1% to 30.4% (chi2 [1, 1958] = 12.754, p < 0.001, V = 0.08). In the regression analysis, BMI (OR 0.944, 95% CI 0.909–0.981; p = 0.003), education (OR 1.111, 95% CI 1.021–1.208; p = 0.015), transport related (OR 1.000, 95% CI 1.000–1.000; p = 0.008) and leisure time physical activity (OR 1.004, 95% CI 1.003–1.004; p < 0.001), muscle strengthening (OR 5.206, 95% CI 4.433–6.114; p < 0.001), as well as the ‘lockdown vs. normal’ categorical variable (OR 0.583, 95% CI 0.424–0.802; p = 0.001) showed a contribution, while sex (p = 0.152), age (p = 0.266), work related physical activity (p = 0.133), and remote working (p = 0.684) did not. Physical activity declined in German adults, and should also be promoted in light of the emerging evidence on its protective effects of against COVID-19. Special attention should be given to muscle strengthening activities and groups with lower educational attainment.
Highlights
In early 2020, the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) reached the European continent and spread rapidly [1]
The exponential spread of the virus and very high excess mortality in Italy was a warning sign for “latecomer” countries [1,3], Since neither preventive nor therapeutic pharmacological options were widely available during the first wave of the pandemic, traditional public health measures aiming at the massive reduction of contacts among people such as shelter-in-place orders, social distancing, and quarantine were deemed to be the only successful strategies to contain the spread of the virus and save lives [4]
We found a significant decline in all physical activity (PA) measures
Summary
In early 2020, the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) reached the European continent and spread rapidly [1]. The lung disease the virus causes (COVID-19) grew into a pandemic by mid-March 2020 [2], with Italy as one of the European countries that was hardest hit [3]. The exponential spread of the virus and very high excess mortality in Italy was a warning sign for “latecomer” countries [1,3], Since neither preventive nor therapeutic pharmacological options were widely available during the first wave of the pandemic, traditional public health measures aiming at the massive reduction of contacts among people such as shelter-in-place orders, social distancing, and quarantine were deemed to be the only successful strategies to contain the spread of the virus and save lives [4]. A large number of countries in Europe followed the path of Italy, which was the first country to impose lockdown measures [1,5]. In Germany, the lockdown measures led to a closure of all non-essential businesses, sports clubs, fitness studios, activity trails, and playgrounds [6].
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