Impact of physical activity on self-reported health parameters in peripheral artery disease in two periods of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged social isolation intended to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), may potentially affect the physical activity level and health of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). OBJECTIVES: To analyze the impact of physical activity practice on longitudinal changes in self-reported health parameters during the COVID-19 pandemic in patients with PAD. DESIGN: Longitudinal study. SETTING: The database of studies developed by our group involving patients with PAD from public hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: In this longitudinal study, 99 patients with PAD were evaluated in two periods during the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., May to August 2020 and May to August 2021). Patients were interviewed by telephone, and information was obtained regarding physical activity practice and self-reported health (i.e., current global, physical, and mental health). Patients were divided into two groups: the physically inactive group (patients who were or became physically inactive, n=76, 51.3% male, 67±10 years old, 8±7 years of disease duration) and the physically active group (patients who started or continued practicing physical activity, n=23, 65.2% male, 71±8years old, 7±6 years of disease). RESULTS: The physically inactive group more frequently self-reported their current health as poor (6.6 vs. 17.1%, P=0.045) and were more frequently hospitalized for reasons other than COVID-19 (6.6 vs. 27.6%, P=0.001) between the two periods evaluated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The physically active group self-reported lower declines in walking capacity (13.0 vs. 43.5%, P=0.022) between the two periods evaluated. We did not observe any differences in other parameters in either group between the two periods evaluated (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The practice of physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic can help maintain or mitigate the negative impacts on self-reported global and physical health parameters in patients with PAD.

Depressive Symptoms Associated With Musculoskeletal Pain in Inactive Adults During COVID-19 Quarantine.

BACKGROUND: Depression has been associated with episodes of musculoskeletal pain. However, it is not clear whether such relationships could be mitigated according to the physical activity level. AIM: To describe, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the relationship between depression and musculoskeletal pain according to the physical activity levels. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: This research was conducted in Brazil between May 5 and March 17, 2020. Participants (N = 1872; 58% women) were invited through social media to answer a structured online questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were assessed through self-report of perception of depression during quarantine. Musculoskeletal pain was assessed based on the Nordic questionnaire identifying nine possible pain points in the body. Physical activity was assessed based on the weekly frequency, intensity, and duration of each session of physical activity the participants engaged in during COVID-19. The logistic binary regression analyzed the associations between depressive symptoms and musculoskeletal pain according to the participants' level of physical activity. RESULTS: Depressive symptoms were associated with pain in six different regions of the body in physically inactive participants. In physically inactive participants, those with depressive symptoms 1.51 (95% CI = 1.04-2.19) and 2.78 (95% CI = 1.81-4.26) times more likely to have pain in one or two and ≥three regions body regions, respectively. In active participants, depressive symptoms were not associated with pain. CONCLUSION: During the COVID-19 pandemic, depression was associated with musculoskeletal pain in physically inactive participants.

Physical activity practice during COVID-19 pandemic in patients with intermittent claudication.

OBJECTIVE: To describe physical activity habits and barriers for physical activity practice in patients with peripheral artery disease and claudication symptoms during Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: In this cross-sectional survey study, 127 patients with peripheral artery disease (59.8% men; 68±9 years old; and 81.9% had the peripheral artery disease diagnosis ≥5 years old) were included. The physical activity habits and barriers for physical activity practice were assessed through telephone interview using a questionnaire with questions related to: (a) COVID-19 personal care; (b) overall health; (c) physical activity habits; (d) for those who were inactive, the barriers for physical activity practice. RESULTS: Only 26.8% of patients reported practicing physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Exercise characteristics more common among these patients include walking, performed at least 5 days a week, during 31-60 min at light intensity. In contrast, among physically inactive patients, pain, injury or disability (55%), the COVID-19 pandemic (50%), the need to rest due to leg pain (29%), and lack of energy (27%) were the most frequent barriers to physical activity practice. CONCLUSION: The physical activity level of patients with peripheral artery disease is impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Physical activity practice during COVID-19 pandemic in patients with intermittent claudication

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To describe physical activity habits and barriers for physical activity practice in patients with peripheral artery disease and claudication symptoms during Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: In this cross-sectional survey study, 127 patients with peripheral artery disease (59.8% men; 68±9 years old; and 81.9% had the peripheral artery disease diagnosis ≥5 years old) were included. The physical activity habits and barriers for physical activity practice were assessed through telephone interview using a questionnaire with questions related to: (a) COVID-19 personal care; (b) overall health; (c) physical activity habits; (d) for those who were inactive, the barriers for physical activity practice. RESULTS: Only 26.8% of patients reported practicing physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Exercise characteristics more common among these patients include walking, performed at least 5 days a week, during 31-60 min at light intensity. In contrast, among physically inactive patients, pain, injury or disability (55%), the COVID-19 pandemic (50%), the need to rest due to leg pain (29%), and lack of energy (27%) were the most frequent barriers to physical activity practice. CONCLUSION: The physical activity level of patients with peripheral artery disease is impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.