• Fortunato José Cardoso, Carla Adriane Fonseca Leal de Araújo, José Roberto da Silva Junior, Angélica Guimarães, Michelle Ribeiro Viana Taveiro, and AlvesJoão Guilherme BezerraJGBDepartment of Pediatrics, Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP), Brazil. Electronic address: joaoguilherme@imip.org.br..
• Department of Gastroenterology, Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP), Brazil.
• Med Clin (Barc). 2023 Sep 29; 161 (6): 243247243-247.

BackgroundRegular physical activity is associated with a low risk of severe community-acquired infections. However, the hypothesis that a physical inactivity pattern is associated with a higher risk for severe COVID-19 has not been completely proven, especially with severe pneumonia.ObjectiveThe goal of this study was to confirm the link between physical activity patterns and severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.DesignCase-control study.MethodsThis study involved 307 patients who developed SARS-CoV-2 severe pneumonia and were hospitalized in an intensive care unit. Age- and sex-matched controls (307) were selected from the same population: patients with mild to moderate forms of COVID-19 who were not hospitalized. Physical activity patterns were assessed using the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.ResultsThe mean physical activity levels were lower in the SARS-CoV-2 severe pneumonia group as compared to the control group: 1576±2939 vs 2438±2999, metabolic equivalent of task (MET-min/week), p<0.001. A high or moderate physical activity level was more common in the control group, and a low physical activity level was more observed in the case group (p<0.001). Obesity was also associated with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (p<0.001). Multivariable analysis showed that a low physical activity level was associated with a higher risk for severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, independent of nutritional status (CI 3.7; 2.24-5.99), p<0.001).ConclusionA higher and moderate level of physical activity is linked to a lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 severe pneumonia.Copyright © 2023 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

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