• Biagio Sassone, Simona Mandini, Giovanni Grazzi, Gianni Mazzoni, Jonathan Myers, and Giovanni Pasanisi.
• Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy (Dr Sassone); Department of Emergency, Division of Cardiology, AUSL Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy (Drs Sassone a... more nd Pasanisi); Centre for Exercise Science and Sport, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy (Drs Mandini, Grazzi, and Mazzoni); Public Health Department, AUSL Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy (Drs Grazzi and Mazzoni); and Division of Cardiology, VA Palo Alto, Palo Alto, California, and Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California (Dr Myers). less
• J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev. 2020 Sep 1; 40 (5): 285-286.

PurposeThe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been spreading rapidly worldwide since late January 2020. The strict lockdown strategy prompted by the Italian government, to hamper severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) spreading, has reduced the possibility of performing either outdoor or gym physical activity (PA). This study investigated and quantified the reduction of PA in patients with automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) for primary prevention of sudden death.MethodsDaily PA of 24 patients was estimated by processing recorded data from ICD-embedded accelerometric sensors used by the rate-responsive pacing systems.ResultsDuring the forced 40-d in-home confinement, a mean 25% reduction of PA was observed as compared with the 40-d confinement-free period (1.2 ± 0.3 vs 1.6 ± 0.5 hr/d, respectively, P = .0001).ConclusionsThis objective quantification of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on PA determined by an ICD device showed an abrupt and statistically significant reduction of PA in primary prevention ICD patients, during the in-home confinement quarantine. To counteract the deleterious effects of physical inactivity during the COVID-19 outbreak, patients should be encouraged to perform indoor exercise-based personalized rehabilitative programs.

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