Physical Activity and the Course of COVID-19

The aim of the study is to assess the relationship between the level of physical activity before falling ill with COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) and the severity of the disease. The course of the disease is often surprising and independent of factors that have been selected as poor prognostic factors ( e.g. diabetes, obesity), therefore it is advisable to look for a relationship for those variables that have not yet been analyzed.

Methodology:

To show if the usual physical activity impacts the course of COVID-19 the relationship between the results from the modified, short form of IPAQ (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) and the disease termination (death or transfer to intensive care unit or recovery) as well as the hospitalization length will be analyzed. The modification of the questionnaire is necessary due to the specific course of COVID-19, thus the patients will be asked about the "usual" physical activity before the disease (not about the last 7 days).

After written consent patients (age >= 18) from the temporal hospital, dedicated to COVID-19, will be surveyed with IPAQ. If the patient's condition is too poor, the patient will be able to: provide answers on a different day up to 7 days from discharge from the hospital, or indicate a relative who can answer for him/her. The basic laboratory parameters e.g.: morphology, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, kidney and liver function, D-dimer, gasometry, and X-rays picture of the lungs will be collected from the patient's medical record if available. Also, information about the type and duration of the used ventilation will be collected if available.

Inclusion criteria

• age >=18
• confirmed COVID-19 ( coronavirus disease 2019) infection
• hospitalization in the COVID-19 treatment unit

Exclusion criteria

• pregnancy;
• inability to complete the questionnaire during hospitalization or up to a week after discharge;
• history of a significant cardiovascular event in the last 6 months (acute coronary syndrome, stroke, amputation, revascularization of peripheral vessels, pulmonary or peripheral embolism of any etiology) if the patient did not complete the rehabilitation process;
• symptomatic chronic respiratory disease not responding to therapy before hospitalization for COVID-19 (or no therapy);
• any dyspnea at rest in the last month before COVID-19;
• injury to the locomotor system in the last month before contracting COVID-19;
• hospitalization in the last month before contracting COVID-19.