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Oxford University Press - PMC COVID-19 Collection logoLink to Oxford University Press - PMC COVID-19 Collection
. 2020 Aug 6:ckaa159. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/ckaa159

Comparison of physical activity levels in Spanish adults with chronic conditions before and during COVID-19 quarantine

Guillermo F López-Sánchez c1,, Rubén López-Bueno c2,, Alejandro Gil-Salmerón c3,, Roksana Zauder c4, Maria Skalska c5, Joanna Jastrzębska c6, Zbigniew Jastrzębski c7, Felipe B Schuch c8, Igor Grabovac c9, Mark A Tully c10, Lee Smith c11
PMCID: PMC7454536  PMID: 32761181

Abstract

Background

This is the first study analysing levels of physical activity in a sample of quarantined adults with chronic conditions. The aim of this study was to compare moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity physical activity levels in Spanish adults with chronic conditions before and during COVID-19 quarantine.

Methods

A cross-sectional online survey was administered during the COVID-19 quarantine in Spain. A total of 163 participants with chronic conditions (113 females and 47 males; age range 18-64 years) completed the survey. A total of 26 chronic conditions were included. Participants self-reported average minutes/day of moderate and vigorous physical activity before and during quarantine. Differences in moderate-intensity physical activity and vigorous-intensity physical activity levels before and during COVID-19 quarantine (overall, by gender, by age, by number of chronic conditions and by each chronic condition) were assessed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results

During COVID-19 quarantine, there was a significant decrease of moderate-intensity physical activity in Spanish people with chronic conditions (in both males and females, in those aged 18-24, 25-34, 35-44 and 55-64 years, in those with multimorbidity, in those with one/two chronic condition/s, and in those diagnosed with asthma/hypercholesterolemia/chronic skin disease/hemorrhoids). Also, there was a significant decrease of vigorous-intensity physical activity in Spanish males with chronic conditions and in those with multimorbidity.

Conclusions

These results should be considered to develop effective strategies of physical activity promotion targeting these specific groups when new quarantine or restriction measures are implemented, in order to avoid new significant decreases of physical activity in these vulnerable populations.

Keywords: Physical activity, adults, chronic conditions, COVID-19, Quarantine


Articles from The European Journal of Public Health are provided here courtesy of Oxford University Press

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