Reduced physical activity and weight gain are associated with an increase of depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. A general practitioners’ prospective observational study

Abstract

Objectives We aimed to assess associations between depressive symptoms, lifestyle, and somatic symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design A prospective, observational study using a self-designed questionnaire. Setting Three general practitioners’ (GP) offices in rural Germany. Participants 271 adult patients without manifest cardiovascular or pulmonary disease with (n = 82) and without (n = 189) hypertension reporting to our GP offices. Main outcome measures The reported increase of depressive symptoms (loneliness, sleeplessness, joylessness, listlessness) prior to the first documented case in Germany on 27.01.2020 (t0) as opposed to patients’ health perception during the Corona pandemic (t1) was the primary outcome measure. The secondary outcome measures were changes in physical activity (PA), dyspnea and angina in the two groups. Results Out of 271 patients (50.8 ± 16.8 years, 55.1% females), 1.5% were tested positive for COVID-19. Overall, listlessness (8.5%, p = 0.001), sleeplessness (5.2%, p = 0.001) and joylessness (4.2%, p = 0.003) were increased. Dyspnea significantly increased (9.2%, p < 0.001) and employment status worsened (6.5%, p < 0.001). There were significant associations between the increase of depressive symptoms, weight increase (p = 0.017), and reduction in physical activity (p = 0.046). However, after adjusting for age, hypertensive patients did not show more depressive symptoms (p = 0.704), dyspnea (p = 0.063) or angina (p = 0.432), nor was there any difference in PA (p = 0.906) compared to healthy individuals. Conclusions We demonstrate an association between the deterioration of depressive symptoms, weight gain, and reduced physical activity during COVID-19, both in hypertensives and healthy controls. Hypertension is no driver of symptom deterioration during the pandemic. The trial was registered in the German Clinical Trials Registry (DRKS00022157).

Measuring the Effects of Social Isolation and Dissatisfaction on Depressive Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Moderating Role of Sleep and Physical Activity

“…Depressive symptoms were also related to differences in physical activity (PA), with lower PA predicting greater depression scores. Prior studies showed a similar link between reduced PA and greater depression symptoms during the pandemic [ 54 , 55 , 56 ]. Like sleep quality, the effect of social isolation and satisfaction on depressive symptoms varied as a function of PA. For example, for those participants who reported low levels of social satisfaction, depressive symptoms were greatest if they also reported low PA ( Figure 2 c).…”

Levels of depressive symptoms in cardiac patients attending cardiac rehabilitation with a history of depression: pre Covid-19 and Covid-19 period comparison

“…A previous systematic review conducted on the general population was in agreement with our study [ 38 ]. Likewise, weight gain was found to be associated with increased depressive symptoms during COVID-19 in a recent observational study of the general population [ 39 ].…”

Einfluss der Corona-Pandemie auf kardiovaskuläre Risikofaktoren – Daten von 1775 Teilnehmern der ELITE Studie vor und während der Corona Pandemie

“…Die Reduktion körperlicher Aktivität korrelierte neben einer Gewichtszunahme auch mit einer tendenziellen Zunahme depressiver Symptome, während eine Zunahme von körperlicher Aktivität eine Reduktion depressiver Symptome bewirkte. Eine Reihe weiterer Autoren berichtet ebenfalls über die Korrelation von geringer körperlicher Aktivität, Gewichtszunahme, depressiven Symptomen, sowie einer verschlechterten Schlafqualität 37 38 39 40 41 . Aber auch unabhängig vom Gewicht kam es zu erheblichen psychosozialen Belastungen in der Pandemie.…”