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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed life styles of millions of people worldwide. This study investigated changes in the health, physical activity levels and eating habits of elite athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Iran. Methods: 383 (248 female and 135 male) elite athletes (168.82 ± 0.07 cm;63.92 ± 7.42 kg;the body mass index (BMI): 22.3 ± 0.78 kg/m2) participated in this study. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) study tools were used to measure levels of physical activity and mental health status, respectively. The Emotional Eater Questionnaire (EEQ) was used to assess food consumption related to emotion. Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis test were used in data analysis. Results: Levels of depression and stress were mild and moderate, while levels of anxiety were severe and very severe in most elite athletes. There were levels of low emotional eating by elite athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical activity levels were negatively correlated with psychological mood measures (p≤0.05), while there were positive correlations between emotional eating behaviours and psychological mood measures (moderate correlation;p≤0.01) and light physical activity levels (weak correlation;p≤0.05). Conclusion: This study provides the first preliminary evidence showing that the COVID-19 lockdown conditions negatively influenced the eating habits and levels of physical activity and mental health in elite athletes. Regular high intensity physical activity as health strategy in elite athletes and the general population remains a strategy to improve overall health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, these findings suggest the need to devise strategies to improve the life styles of elite athletes during pandemics such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed life styles of millions of people worldwide. This study investigated changes in the health, physical activity levels and eating habits of elite athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Iran. METHODS: 383 (248 female and 135 male) elite athletes (168.82 ± 0.07 cm; 63.92 ± 7.42 kg; the body mass index (BMI): 22.3 ± 0.78 kg/m2) participated in this study. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) study tools were used to measure levels of physical activity and mental health status, respectively. The Emotional Eater Questionnaire (EEQ) was used to assess food consumption related to emotion. Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis test were used in data analysis. RESULTS: Levels of depression and stress were mild and moderate, while levels of anxiety were severe and very severe in most elite athletes. There were levels of low emotional eating by elite athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical activity levels were negatively correlated with psychological mood measures (p≤0.05), while there were positive correlations between emotional eating behaviours and psychological mood measures (moderate correlation; p≤0.01) and light physical activity levels (weak correlation; p≤0.05). CONCLUSION: This study provides the first preliminary evidence showing that the COVID-19 lockdown conditions negatively influenced the eating habits and levels of physical activity and mental health in elite athletes. Regular high intensity physical activity as health strategy in elite athletes and the general population remains a strategy to improve overall health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, these findings suggest the need to devise strategies to improve the life styles of elite athletes during pandemics such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
CONTEXTE: La pandémie de COVID-19 a changé les modes de vie de millions de personnes dans le monde. Cette étude a examiné certains indicateurs de bonne santé, les niveaux d'activité physique et les habitudes alimentaires d'athlètes Elite iraniens pendant le confinement lié à la pandémie de COVID-19.Méthodes : 383 (248 femmes et 135 hommes) athlètes élites (168,82 ± 0,07 cm ; 63,92 ± 7,42 kg ; indice de masse corporelle (IMC) : 22,3 ± 0,78 kg/m2) ont participé à cette étude. Le questionnaire international sur l'activité physique (IPAQ), l'échelle DASS-21 (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales) et les scores de l'auto-questionnaire Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) ont été utilisés pour mesurer les niveaux respectifs d'activité physique et de l'état de santé mentale. L'Emotional Eater Questionnaire (EEQ) a été utilisé pour évaluer les altérations de la prise alimentaire liées à l'émotion. Le test d'analyse de corrélation de Pearson et Spearman a été utilisé pour l'analyse des données.Résultats : Les niveaux de dépression et de stress étaient légers et modérés, tandis que les niveaux d'anxiété étaient sévères à très sévères chez la plupart des athlètes élites. Il y avait des niveaux de faible alimentation d'origine émotionnelle chez ces athlètes pendant la pandémie de COVID-19. Les niveaux d'activité physique étaient corrélés négativement avec les mesures de l'humeur psychologique (p≤0,05), tandis qu'il y avait des corrélations positives entre les comportements alimentaires émotionnels et les mesures de l'humeur psychologique (corrélation modérée ; p≤0,01) et les niveaux d'activité physique légère (faible corrélation ; p≤0,05). CONCLUSION: Cette étude apporte une preuve préliminaire que les conditions de confinement liées au COVID-19 ont influencé négativement les habitudes alimentaires et les niveaux d'activité physique et de santé mentale chez des athlètes élites. L'activité physique régulière à haute intensité aussi bien chez les athlètes élites que pour la population générale reste une stratégie pour améliorer la santé globale pendant la pandémie de COVID-19. De plus, ces résultats suggèrent la nécessité de concevoir des stratégies pour améliorer les styles de vie des athlètes élites lors de pandémies, telles que celle de Covid-19.
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This short review aimed at (i) providing an update on the health benefits associated with melatonin supplementation, while (ii) considering future potential research directions concerning melatonin supplementation use relative to Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). A narrative review of the literature was undertaken to ascertain the effect of exogenous melatonin administration on humans. Night-time melatonin administration has a positive impact on human physiology and mental health. Indeed, melatonin (i) modulates the circadian components of the sleep-wake cycle; (ii) improves sleep efficiency and mood status; (iii) improves insulin sensitivity; and (iv) reduces inflammatory markers and oxidative stress. Melatonin has also remarkable neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects and may therefore prevent deterioration caused by COVID-19. We suggest that melatonin could be used as a potential therapy in the post-COVID-19 syndrome, and therefore call for action the research community to investigate on the potential use of exogenous melatonin to enhance the quality of life in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome. See also Figure 1(Fig. 1).
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BACKGROUND: The circadian clock regulates the function of the immune system, the replication of viruses, and the magnitude of infections. The aim of this study was to analyse whether hospital attendance in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients presents a diurnal variation. METHODS: Data from the electronic medical records of 1094 COVID-19 patients who presented to a Health Centre in Qatar during the month of July 2020 was retrospectively analysed. The following demographic (i.e. time of day (TOD), sex, age), clinical (i.e. cycle threshold (CT), temperature, oxy-haemoglobin saturation and resting heart-rate), biochemical (i.e. uraemia, glycaemia and albuminia) and haematological (i.e. leukocytes, erythrocytes ad platelets) parameters were collected. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed a significant effect of TOD on hospital admission (p < 0.001), with patients attending the health care centre more during the active behavioural phase (08h00-00h00) compared to the resting phase (00h00-08h00). COVID-19 infection blunted the circadian rhythms of core body temperature, neutrophils and leukocytes family and shifted the circadian rhythms of resting heart-rate and uraemia. Correlation analysis showed a near perfect negative correlation between the age of patients and the TOD (r=-0.97), with older patients attending the care centre earlier during the day. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 infection affected the circadian rhythms of the host through disrupting the circadian rhythms of core temperature and innate immunity mediators. Old patients attend the health care centre earlier compared to younger ones. However, CT during polymerase chain reaction-test was unaffected by the TOD, which limits the conclusion that COVID-19 viral infection exhibits diurnal variation.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Uremia , Humans , Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2022 (WC2022) comes in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims were to (i) provide a brief overview of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic games in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and (ii) highlight the potential challenges and opportunities central to the hosting of the FIFA WC2022. The organisation, public health policies and prevention protocols of the postponed 2020 Olympic/Paralympic Games (Tokyo July-August 2021), the infection rates during the event, as well as the upcoming WC2022 and its related preparations and challenges, were analysed. An unparalleled International Olympic Committee (IOC) effort, together with the Japanese government and people's perseverance and drive, enabled the safe delivery of the Tokyo Olympic/Paralympic Games, which left a legacy beyond sport. This has been aided by the collection of critical data and lessons learnt throughout the games. The stringent public health policies and especially the tight bubble system for players and their respective delegations have certainly been the key components that ensured the successful containment of COVID-19 within the targeted population. One of the most significant lessons learned from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is the improvement made in controlling COVID-19 in the context of mass gathering events. Strict infection control strategies to prevent future COVID-19 transmission during the FIFA World Cup 2022 are an immediate priority in Qatar and are constantly being prepared. The planned measures and health care strategies appear to be well adjusted to the risk, especially for the large anticipated number of visitors, and can provide sufficient guarantees to conduct relatively "safe" mega sports events.
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The COVID-19 outbreak resulted in the shutdown of athletic training facilities. Although the effects of these restrictions on daily activity and sleep patterns have been widely analyzed, the employed tools often lacked accuracy, and were based on subjective measures. This study assessed the effects of home confinement on objective physical activity (PA), physiological and sleep parameters in active individuals. Sixteen male elite fitness coaches (age: 29±3 years; height: 183±6 cm; body mass: 82±5 kg, body mass index: 24.7±1.8 kg/m2) participated in this retrospective study. One-way analysis of variance was conducted to analyze selected PA, physiological and sleep parameters collected by smartwatch (Garmin Fenix 6 pro, USA) data during four consecutive months [i.e., pre-confinement, 1st and 2nd months of confinement, and post-confinement, year 2020]. Ramadan intermittent fasting (RIF) month occurred during the 2nd month of confinement. Compared to pre-confinement, significant changes were registered for almost all parameters during the 1st and/or the 2nd month of confinements (p<0.001), with (i) higher values for resting heart rate, sleep latency, and total, light and rapid eye movements sleep times (% change=7-523 %), and (ii) lower values for PA parameters, calories/day spent, average and highest respiratory rates, and deep sleep time during the home confinement period (% change=5-36 %). During the post-confinement month, all parameters regained pre-confinement values. In conclusion, home confinement-induced detraining negatively influenced the objective measurements of cardiorespiratory and sleep parameters among fitness coaches with a deeper effect during the 2nd month of home confinement, possibly due to the effect of RIF.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Soccer , Sports , Anniversaries and Special Events , Humans , Qatar/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Many COVID-19 infected people remain asymptomatic, and hence the diagnosis at first presentation remains a challenge. Assessment at a presentation in primary care settings is usually done by visual triaging and basic clinical examination. This retrospective study involved investigating the medical e-records of COVID-19 positive patients who presented to a COVID-19 centre in Qatar for July 2020. The presence (symptomatic group) or the absence (asymptomatic group) of symptoms along with objective vital examination (ie; heart-rate (HR), temperature, haemoglobin saturation (SpO2)) were analysed and linked to the viral load (ie; cycle threshold (Ct)) of COVID-19 positive patients. Four hundred eighty-one symptomatic (230 males) and 216 asymptomatic (101 males) patients were included. Compared to the asymptomatic male group, the symptomatic male group was older, had lower Ct value and SpO2, and higher temperature and HR. Compared to the females asymptomatic group, the symptomatic females group had lower Ct value, and higher temperature. Compared to the asymptomatic group, the symptomatic group had lower Ct value and SpO2, and higher temperature and HR. Compared to the asymptomatic group, the symptomatic group had lower Ct values (age groups [21-30], [31-40], [41-50] and [51-60]), higher temperature (age groups [21-30] and [31-40], Ct ranges [20.01-25.00] and [25.01-30.00]), higher HR (age groups [21-30] and [31-40], Ct range [15.01-20.00]); and lower SpO2 (age groups [41-50] and [51-60], Ct ranges [15.01-20.00] and [35.01-40.00]). Compared with asymptomatic patients, symptomatic patients with COVID-19 are most likely to be febrile, tachycardic, hypoxic and having higher viral load. Higher viral load was associated with higher HR, higher temperature, lower SpO2, but there was no relation between viral load and age.