Exercise Preferences and Benefits in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19

Background: Obese people are at risk of becoming severely ill due to SARS-CoV-2. The exercise benefits on health have been emphasized. Aim: To investigate the correlation of obesity with the length of hospitalization, the pre- and post-hospitalization exercise preferences of COVID-19 patients, and the impact of pre-admission or post-hospitalization physical activity on dyspnea one month after hospitalization and recovery time. Methods: A telephone survey was conducted in patients hospitalized at the Respiratory Medicine Department, University of Thessaly, Greece, from November to December 2020. Results: Two-thirds of the patients were obese. Obesity was not associated with the hospitalization time. Two-thirds of the patients used to engage in physical activity before hospitalization. Males exercised in a higher percentage and more frequently than women before and after hospitalization. The methodical pre-hospitalization exercise was associated with lower levels of dyspnea one month after hospitalization. In-hospital weight loss, comorbidities, and dyspnea on admission independently predicted longer recovery time. Lockdown had boosted men’s desire to exercise than females who were negatively affected. Conclusions: Obesity is common in COVID-19 hospitalized patients. In-hospital weight loss, comorbidities, and dyspnea on admission predicted a longer post-hospitalization recovery time. The pre-hospitalization exercise was associated with less post-hospitalization dyspnea and recovery time.