Regular physical activity would reduce the risk of a severe form of Covid-19

If physical activity has beneficial effects on the immune system, what about the protective effects of regular sports practice on the risks of coronavirus infection, hospitalization and mortality?

People who engage in an activity physical regular are less likely to catch Covid-19 and develop a severe form, concludes a study published Tuesday in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. ” Regular physical activity is associated with a lower risk of infection » to the coronavirus, as well as to a better prognosis in matter ” hospitalizations, gravity and mortality concludes this study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

It is already well established that a good physical activity promotes a better body response to respiratory diseases in general, but this work focused more specifically on Covid-19. It is not an isolated study, but an analysis that takes up and compiles about fifteen pre-existing works, which gives it a priori superior strength.

The authors conclude that in the event of regular activity the risk of infection is slightly reduced and, above all, that that of hospitalization decreases by around a third (-36%) and that of death by almost half (- 43%). The authors estimate that it takes at least 150 minutes ofmoderate activityor 75 minutes ofstrenuous activityper week for maximum effect.

However, the study has many limitations.

However, this type of study does not allow conclusions to be drawn about the mechanisms at work. It is likely that good physical activity directly facilitates an effective immune response, as the authors point out. But it can also limit upstream certain risk factors of a serious Covid, such as overweight.

Above all, the authors warn that their conclusions must be taken “with caution” because the studies included vary greatly in their methodology. Most of this work, moreover, is based on the indications given by the patients themselves on their physical activity, and not on an objective assessment.

Finally, the researchers do not exclude a bias that would lead to publishing only the most conclusive studies concerning a positive effect of physical activity. But ” our findings could guide doctors and health authorities » as to the degree of physical activity to be recommended, in particular for patients with high risk severe Covid, conclude the authors.