Self-Reported Pre-Pandemic Physical Activity and Likelihood of COVID-19 Infection: Data from the First Wave of the CoCo-Fakt Survey

Nikola Schmidt; Andreas Gehlhar; Barbara Grüne; Annelene Kossow; Thomas Kraus; Johannes Nießen; Stefanie Wessely; Christine Joisten

doi:10.1186/s40798-023-00592-6

Self-Reported Pre-Pandemic Physical Activity and Likelihood of COVID-19 Infection: Data from the First Wave of the CoCo-Fakt Survey

Sports Med Open. 2023 Jun 21;9(1):48. doi: 10.1186/s40798-023-00592-6.

Authors

Nikola Schmidt¹, Andreas Gehlhar², Barbara Grüne², Annelene Kossow^{2

3}, Thomas Kraus⁴, Johannes Nießen⁵, Stefanie Wessely⁶, Christine Joisten^{6

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department for Physical Activity in Public Health, Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany. [email protected].
² Department of Infection Control and Environmental Hygiene, Cologne Health Authority, Cologne, Germany.
³ Institute of Hygiene, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
⁴ Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
⁵ Cologne Health Authority, Cologne, Germany.
⁶ Department for Physical Activity in Public Health, Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the potential protective role of exercise on the odds of COVID-19 infection in unvaccinated contact persons (CPs) who were at higher risk of infection due to confirmed contact with infected persons.

Methods: Before the onset of the vaccination campaign, the first wave of the CoCo-Fakt online survey was conducted with SARS-CoV-2-positive persons and their confirmed contacts who were isolated/quarantined between 1 March 2020 and 9 December 2020. Within this analysis, 5338 CPs were included and divided into those who subsequently tested positive (CP-P) and those who remained negative (CP-N). We assessed demographics as well as pre-pandemic lifestyle characteristics including physical activity (PA; type, frequency, time, intensity; duration clustered as 'below PA guidelines', 'meeting PA guidelines', and 'above PA guidelines'; intensity clustered as 'low intensity' and 'moderate-to-vigorous intensity') and sedentary behaviour.

Results: A greater percentage of CP-Ns reported being active before the pandemic compared to CP-Ps (69% vs. 63%; p = .004). Moreover, CP-Ns reported higher PA duration (164.1 min/week vs. 143.2 min/week; p = .038) and higher PA intensities than CP-Ps (67% vs. 60% moderate-to-vigorous intensity, 33% vs. 40% low intensity; p = .003). Adjusting for age, sex, socioeconomic status, migration background, and pre-existing chronic diseases, the odds of infection were negatively associated with exercise (yes/no) (Nagelkerke R² = 1.9%), PA levels above PA guidelines (Nagelkerke R² = 2.0%), and PA intensity (Nagelkerke R² = 1.8%).

Conclusion: Due to the beneficial effects of PA on the odds of infection, an active lifestyle should be promoted especially during possible subsequent pandemics (while taking into account necessary hygiene measures). Moreover, inactive and chronically ill persons should be especially encouraged to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Keywords: COVID-19 infection; Exercise; Physical activity; Risk factors; SARS-CoV-2.