Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity in Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The management of chronic diseases (CD) includes physical activity (PA). It is necessary to determine the effects of COVID-19 restrictions in CD. The aim was to review the research related to PA levels before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in people with CD. This review was designed according to PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO: CRD42020218825. The search was performed in CINAHL, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science up to January 2021. The PICOS recommendations were applied. The search was conducted by two reviewers, who completed the data extraction of included articles. Methodological quality was assessed using the STROBE checklist, and a meta-analysis was conducted. The literature search strategy identified 227 articles. Five studies remained and were included. Only three studies were included in the meta-analysis. Two articles used accelerometers to objectively compare PA levels before and during the pandemic. Three studies made this comparison using an online survey. All articles showed a decrease in PA levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. The meta-analysis showed a significant reduction in PA levels during pandemic. PA levels during the COVID-19 pandemic have been reduced with respect to previous levels of PA in patients with CD.

Physical Activity Level and Perspectives of Participants Transitioning from Onsite to Virtual Cardiac Rehabilitation during the Early COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Method Study

“…Conversely, McCarthy et al identified a 37% reduction in weekly minutes of exercise after the first full week of lockdown in the United Kingdom [ 43 ]. Decreases of physical activity were also observed in specific populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, including among those with chronic diseases [ 44 ], the elderly [ 45 ], and women [ 46 ].…”

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity, Function, and Quality of Life

“…The review also noted that reductions in physical activity were greater in countries with more stringent restrictions, whereas studies conducted in countries such as Sweden, which had fewer government-imposed restrictions, did not demonstrate reductions in activity. Furthermore, reduction in physical activity during periods of restriction has also been noted in people with disabilities and chronic conditions 13,36 and people with dementia. 37 Increases in sedentary lifestyle have also been reported.…”

Bibliometric Analysis of Literature on Physical Activity and COVID-19

“…Since late 2019, a newly emerging disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has affected several aspects of health, including physical activity [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. A study by Raynaud et al showed a rise in COVID-19 related publications and a decrease in the proportion of non-COVID-19 publications in high-impact medical journals [ 10 ].…”