We’ve been told for decades: Physical activity is essential. In particular, it makes it possible to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and would be of equivalent benefit to antidepressants.
An additional benefit has been added to the long list: Being physically active will prevent the development and death of a more serious form of Covid-19. This conclusion is the findings of a recent American study of nearly 50,000 patients.
You will likely be hospitalized twice
Posted in British Journal of Sports MedicineThe study found that people who had been physically inactive for at least two years prior to the pandemic were more likely to be hospitalized, need intensive care and die from coronavirus disease than patients who consistently followed physical activity recommendations.
To study its potential impact on infection severity, hospitalization, resuscitation and death, researchers compared the fate of 48,440 adults with Covid-19 between January and October 2020 in the United States.
After taking into account differences due to age, race, and comorbidities, stable patients with Covid-19 were more than twice as likely to be admitted to hospital than the most active, that is, those who respected health recommendations.
People who did not exercise were 73% more likely to resuscitate and 2.5 times more likely to die from the infection.
Patients who did not engage in any physical activity were more likely to be hospitalized and die from infection than those who used to do some physical activity, between 11 minutes and 2:40 per week.
A world that surpasses all others
If the other aggravating factors of Covid-19 are already known, particularly aging, and some pre-existing diseases, such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease, then physical inactivity has not yet been studied.
The results of this study show, however, that compared to other risk factors such as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease or cancer, “physical inactivity was the most important risk factor in all cases. The results,” the researchers pointed out.
According to researchers, as a risk factor for developing serious illness, physical inactivity is only overcome with age and transplant history.
However, the study does not provide evidence of a direct link between lack of exercise and the results obtained.
Future evil of the century?
Lack of physical activity is considered one of the main risk factors for health problems by the World Health Organization. Thus, sedentary lifestyles are responsible for about 10% of all deaths in the European region. The World Health Organization estimates that it causes 5% of the burden of coronary heart disease, 7% of type 2 diabetes, 9% of breast cancer and 10% of colon cancer. Raising awareness about such risks is of utmost importance. People should not only increase physical activity in their lives, but should also be prepared for likely emergencies. Fortunately, online courses in life saving skills such as ACLS may be done online and equip everyone with the knowledge to save a life until the paramedics arrive.
During the first booking, one in two French people did at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day, which was recommended by health authorities, according to a survey by CoviPrev. A third of the French also declared that they remained seated for more than seven hours a day, meaning that the standard of sedentary life is very high.
“Sport should be a physical activity prescribed by doctors,” says founder of Athanase Kollias Kinvent, A startup that develops connected solutions for in-home rehabilitation and physical preparation.
These tools aim to democratize physical exercise and rehabilitation at home by allowing people to view their progress directly on the digital app. Physicians and physiotherapists can also consult them remotely and adapt their patients’ programs according to the results recorded by the devices. “The prevention of all diseases of the musculoskeletal system is through movement, through continuous physical activity in order to combat diseases of the century such as back pain or obesity.” Athanas Kolias says optimistically.