ABSTRACT
The study aimed to determine whether back pain is a clinical manifestation in patients with COVID-19 and whether several demographic and disease characteristics could be an effective indicator of back pain.Materials and Methods. A total of 99 patients with COVID-19 were recruited from the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Kirikkale High Specialized Hospital in Turkey and divided into two groups depending on the presence (n=50) or absence of back pain (n=49). The primary outcomes included were demographic and disease characteristics, the Nord-Trondelag Health Study Physical Activity Level for Work (HUNT), and the 6-minute walking test.Results. The most common symptom was fatigue (n=63, 63.6%), followed by back pain (n=50, 50.5%). In the back pain group, the number of patients with sedentary lifestyle, oxygen requirement, pneumonia, and typical pneumonia pattern were significantly higher (p=0.009, p=0.026, p=0.001, p=0.001, respectively), while aerobic capacity was lower (p=0.001). In a logistic regression analysis, back pain was found to be associated with pneumonia presence. Conclusions. Back pain may be associated with the presence of COVID-19 pneumonia and should be evaluated as its early warning symptom.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: To evaluate PCR-positive COVID-19 patients' aerobic capacities during the active disease period and in the 3rd month after treatment and determine the demographic and disease characteristics associated with it. Materials and methods: The study is a prospective, cross-sectional analysis conducted on 123 PCR positive inpatients. The study involved a total of 99 patients who completed follow up. Patients' demographic and disease characteristics, Nord -Trøndelag Health Study Physical Activity Level for Work (HUNT), were compared in terms of aerobic capacity (6-minute walking test) at treatment onset and third month and the change between these two measurements. In addition, demographic and disease characteristics of patients were grouped according to age (18-29, 30-59, 60-64 and >65 years), gender, BMI (<18.5%, 18.5%-24.9% and overweight ≥25%), comorbidities, smoking, level of work physical activity (sedentary, mild, moderate and severe) duration of hospital treatment, presence of pneumonia and oxygen requirement, and compared in terms of aerobic capacity at treatment onset and third month and the change between these two measurements. Results: Older age (r:-0.573, p=0.001 and r:-0.488, p=0.001, respectively), the presence (r:-0.322, p=0.001 and r:-0.238, p=0.017, respectively) and number of comorbidities (r:-0.367, p=0.001 and r:-0.257, p=0.010, respectively), oxygen requirement (r:-0.510, p=0.001 and r:-0.439, p=0.001, respectively), and pneumonia presence (r:-0.693, p=0.001 and r:-0.607, p=0.001, respectively) were negatively correlated with aerobic capacity at treatment onset and third month, and positively correlated with smoking (r:0.385, p=0.001 and r:0.416, p=0.001, respectively) and physical activity level (r:0.698, p=0.001 and r:0.624, p=0.001, respectively). The patients with heavy physical activity had significantly higher aerobic capacity than other levels. Conclusion: The higher aerobic capacity and aerobic capacity change may be correlated with the higher work activity level before the illness. Continuing physical activity, even at home, will promote recovery after the illness. © 2021 A. CARBONE Editore. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
To prevent and reduce inactivity, the World Health Organization (WHO) designed a global plan called Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030 (GAPPA) in 2017. In this plan and according to the state of physical activity in 2016, actions and goals were set. However, the world is facing a COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected various aspects of lifestyle, including physical activity. Some studies have shown that physical activity reduced during the pandemic. For this reason, the WHO should review the GAPPA and update goals and actions according to the state of physical activity in 2020.