Social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic can increase physical inactivity and the global burden of cardiovascular disease

• Published in: American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology Vol. 318; no. 6; pp. H1441 - H1446
• Main Authors: Peçanha, Tiago, Goessler, Karla Fabiana, Roschel, Hamilton, Gualano, Bruno
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Physiological Society 01.06.2020
• Series: Integrative Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathophysiology
• Subjects: Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular system; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronaviruses; Cost of Illness; COVID-19; Feasibility studies; Global Health; Health promotion; Health risk assessment; Health risks; Humans; Pandemics; Physical activity; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Populations; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Sedentary Behavior; Social interactions; Social Isolation; Structure-function relationships; Viral diseases; cardiac diseases; coronavirus; exercise; sedentary behavior
• ISSN: 0363-6135; 1522-1539; 1522-1539
• DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00268.2020

Emerging data indicate a substantial decrease in global physical activity levels during the period of social isolation adopted worldwide to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Confinement-induced decreases in physical activity levels and increases in sedentary behavior may provoke a rapid deterioration of cardiovascular health and premature deaths among populations with increased cardiovascular risk. Even short-term (1–4 wk) inactivity has been linked with detrimental effects in cardiovascular function and structure and increased cardiovascular risk factors. In this unprecedented and critical scenario, home-based physical activity programs arise as a clinically relevant intervention to promote health benefits to cardiac patients. Many studies have demonstrated the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of different models of home-based exercise programs in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases and major cardiovascular events among different populations. This body of knowledge can inform evidence-based policies to be urgently implemented to counteract the impact of increased physical inactivity and sedentary behavior during the COVID-19 outbreak, thereby alleviating the global burden of cardiovascular disease.