Laziness could be a symptom of long-Covid, a new study reveals. Covid-19 survivors with at least one persistent symptom of the disease are 57 per cent more likely to be inactive.
For those who suffer from five or more continual symptoms the odds of physical inactivity skyrockets by a staggering 138 per cent. According to the Office of National Statistics, as of 1 October last year, around 2.1 million people were living in the UK with long-Covid.
Long-Covid sufferers carry symptoms for over four weeks after they were first diagnosed with the virus. Early reports revealed that around three out of every four patients hospitalised with Covid-19 had at least one persistent symptom six months after they left hospital.
The new study analysed the data of 614 patients, with an average age of 56, who contracted the virus. The patients were hospitalised between March and August 2020.
Of the group, 55 per cent required intensive care and 37 per cent had been intubated. A check-up took place six to 11 months after they were discharged.
During the follow up appointment, they were examined and interviewed to see how physically active they were and to assess other parts of their lifestyle. Each patient also reported whether they had any symptoms associated with long-Covid.
These symptoms included fatigue, breathlessness, severe muscle pain, taste and smell loss and memory impairment. Participants were classified as physically inactive if they reported less than 150 minutes of at least moderately intense exercise per week.
Sixty per cent of the participants were considered to be physically inactive. Of these patients, 37 per cent were smokers, 58 per cent had high blood pressure, 35 per cent had diabetes and 17 per cent were obese.
Study author Hamilton Roschel, a coordinator of the University of São Paulo’s Applied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group, said: “These are risk factors for severe Covid-19. They were expected to be frequent in the study because all the participants had been hospitalised.”
They found that people with one continuous symptom of the disease were 57 per cent more likely to be inactive.
When five or more symptoms were reported, the odds of physical inactivity rose by 138 per cent.
Dr Roschel added: “The more symptoms, the higher the likelihood of physical inactivity.”
Certain symptoms associated with long-Covid correlated very closely with physical inactivity.
The highest correlations were with breathlessness, hitting 132 per cent, and fatigue at 101 per cent.
Dr Roschel said: “It makes sense to assume that people with this condition experience more difficulty to maintain an active routine.
“But it’s also plausible that people with a sedentary lifestyle are more subject to these long-term symptoms after recovering from an acute infection.
“Our study doesn’t allow us to infer causality.”
The research led the team to question whether physical inactivity “itself may be considered a persistent symptom among Covid-19 survivors.”
Other research groups have thought the same.
One study found that 239 recovering patients reported walking significantly less six months after the symptoms started.
Another study revealed that hospitalised Covid-19 patients with more muscle strength and mass tended to stay in hospital for less time.
One study from the US analysed the physical activity history of 48,440 Covid-19 patients.
It showed that the risk of hospitalisation, admission to the ICU and death was highest among those who were consistently inactive.
Dr Roschel said: “Our latest study added information by describing specific correlations between physical inactivity and persistent symptoms of COVID-19.
“Future research should investigate this association in order to understand the underlying causes.”
Dr Roschel added: “From a practical standpoint, the importance of physical activity during the pandemic is clearly demonstrated.
“There are cases in which people who have recovered from the disease should follow medical advice as to the precautions required when undertaking physical exercise, but an active lifestyle should be encouraged as a matter of public health.
“Sedentarism accounts for nine per cent of all-cause deaths worldwide.”
He concluded: “Although this was a cross-sectional study, the findings underscore the importance of discussing and encouraging physical activity at all times, including during the pandemic.”
The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.
