The role of physical activity in the clinical outcomes of people diagnosed with Covid-19: A systematic review

Euripedes Barsanulfo Gonçalves Gomide; Pedro Pugliesi Abdalla; Marcel Frezza Pisa; Guilherme Schneider; Leticia Genova Vieira; Lisa Fernanda Mazzonetto; Alcivandro de Sousa Oliveira; Emerson Sebastião; André Pereira Dos Santos

doi:10.1016/j.jsampl.2022.100007

The role of physical activity in the clinical outcomes of people diagnosed with Covid-19: A systematic review

JSAMS Plus. 2022 Oct:1:100007. doi: 10.1016/j.jsampl.2022.100007. Epub 2022 Nov 14.

Authors

Euripedes Barsanulfo Gonçalves Gomide^{1

2

3}, Pedro Pugliesi Abdalla^{2

3

4}, Marcel Frezza Pisa^{1

5}, Guilherme Schneider², Leticia Genova Vieira², Lisa Fernanda Mazzonetto^{3

6}, Alcivandro de Sousa Oliveira^{3

6}, Emerson Sebastião⁷, André Pereira Dos Santos^{2

3

6

8}

Affiliations

¹ Claretiano - University Center, São Paulo, Brazil.
² Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
³ Study and Research Group in Anthropometry, Training and Sport, Ribeirão Preto. School of Physical Education and Sport of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
⁴ School of Sports (FADEUP), University of Porto, Portugal.
⁵ Ribeirão Preto College of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
⁶ Ribeirão Preto School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
⁷ Health and Exercise Research Group. Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, United States.
⁸ Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Brazil.

Abstract

Objective: This review aimed to compile the evidence on PA and clinical outcomes of people receiving a positive diagnosis of covid-19.

Design: Systematic review.

Methods: The search was performed in five databases: EMBASE, MEDLINE via PubMed portal, Scopus, SPORTDiscus via EBSCO platform, and Web of Science. In addition, the "gray" literature was searched through Google Scholar and medRxiv published between January 2020 and July 2022. Studies were assessed for risk of bias, with the extraction of relevant data. Our search revealed a total of 10,028 studies.

Results: After applying the eligibility criteria 32 studies were included. Thirty-one studies were at low to moderate risk of bias. Physically active individuals, who were diagnosed with covid-19, presented attenuation of clinical outcomes, such as decreased risk of hospitalization, recovery time, number of symptoms, severity, and ICU and death when compared to individuals with low levels of PA or classified as sedentary.

Conclusions: Physically active individuals when diagnosed with covid-19 may have decreased risk of several clinical outcomes related to covid-19, including but not limited to hospitalization and number of symptoms. Public health authorities should develop strategies and initiatives that promote safe PA environments to improve the clinical prognosis of people diagnosed with covid-19.

Study registration: Open Science Framework (OSF), DOI registry 10.17605/OSF.IO/PV6NF. It can be consulted through the access link: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/PV6NF, October 07, 2021.

Keywords: Coronavirus; General health; Pandemic; Physical exercise.

Publication types

Review