Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 associates with physical inactivity in a cohort of COVID-19 survivors

The aim of this study was to determine whether Post-acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC) are associated with physical inactivity in COVID-19 survivors. This is a cohort study of COVID-19 survivors discharged from a tertiary hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Patients admitted as inpatients due to laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 between March and August 2020 were consecutively invited for a follow-up in-person visit 6 to 11 months after hospitalization. Ten symptoms of PASC were assessed using standardized scales. Physical activity was assessed by questionnaire and participants were classified according to WHO Guidelines. 614 patients were analyzed (age: 56 ± 13 years; 53% male). Frequency of physical inactivity in patients exhibiting none, at least 1, 1–4, and 5 or more symptoms of PASC was 51%, 62%, 58%, and 71%, respectively. Adjusted models showed that patients with one or more persistent PASC symptoms have greater odds of being physically inactive than those without any persistent symptoms (OR: 1.57 [95% CI 1.04–2.39], P = 0.032). Dyspnea (OR: 2.22 [1.50–3.33], P < 0.001), fatigue (OR: 2.01 [1.40–2.90], P < 0.001), insomnia (OR: 1.69 [1.16–2.49], P = 0.007), post-traumatic stress (OR: 1.53 [1.05–2.23], P = 0.028), and severe muscle/joint pain (OR: 1.53 [95% CI 1.08–2.17], P = 0.011) were associated with greater odds of being physically inactive. This study suggests that PASC is associated with physical inactivity, which itself may be considered as a persistent symptom among COVID-19 survivors. This may help in the early identification of patients who could benefit from additional interventions tailored to combat inactivity (even after treatment of PASC), with potential beneficial impacts on overall morbidity/mortality and health systems worldwide.