Recommended shielding against COVID-19 impacts physical activity levels in adults with cystic fibrosis

• Published in: Journal of cystic fibrosis Vol. 19; no. 6; pp. 875 - 879
• Main Authors: Radtke, Thomas, Haile, Sarah R., Dressel, Holger, Benden, Christian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.11.2020; The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of European Cystic Fibrosis Society
• Subjects: Adult; Communicable Disease Control - methods; Communicable Disease Control - organization & administration; Coronavirus; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 - psychology; Cystic fibrosis; Cystic Fibrosis - epidemiology; Cystic Fibrosis - physiopathology; Cystic Fibrosis - surgery; Exercise - physiology; Exercise - psychology; Female; Humans; Lung disease; Lung transplantation; Lung Transplantation - statistics & numerical data; Male; Original; Physical Distancing; Psychological Distress; Pulmonary/Respiratory; Risk Assessment; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 - isolation & purification; Surveys and Questionnaires; Switzerland - epidemiology; Switzerland; COVID-19; Lung disease; Cystic fibrosis; SARS-CoV-2; Coronavirus; Lung transplantation
• ISSN: 1569-1993; 1873-5010; 1873-5010
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2020.08.013

•Results of a survey of 327 individuals with CF during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.•The Swiss national study cohort included 25% lung transplant recipients.•The impact of SARS-CoV-2 on clinical outcomes was overall mild.•Subjects were more distressed by strict lockdown measures impacting their daily lives.•The recommended protective measures impacted profoundly on subjects’ physical activity. Severe acute respiratory syndrome – coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a pandemic threatening the life of people with chronic respiratory diseases including cystic fibrosis (CF). This study was designed to investigate health-related aspects of individuals with CF, with and without lung transplantation (LTX), their communication with their specialist healthcare providers during the pandemic, potential changes in peoples’ individual therapy regimes and daily physical activity levels. A web-based survey was conducted among Swiss adults with CF with and without LTX, study period from March 16th, 2020 – the day the “extraordinary situation” was officially declared in Switzerland introducing stringent measures protecting the public – until May 16th, 2020. 327 individuals (25% LTX recipients) were included, 45 individuals reported coronavirus-2019 disease (COVID-19) like symptoms. Of 28 subjects tested, only three subjects were tested positive, all with mild symptoms, no hospitalization required. Almost half of the survey respondents (45%) reported undertaking less physical activity during the lockdown, while 79% and 91% of participants reported no change in traditional airway clearance and inhalation therapies, respectively. Distress regarding a potential SARS-CoV-2 infection or worsening of lung disease were no major concerns for subjects. Our study reveals that the direct impact of SARS-CoV-2 on clinical outcomes of individuals with CF was mild although people with chronic lung diseases like CF are considered a high-risk population; overall, this is reassuring. However, strict lockdown measures substantially affected peoples’ physical activity levels, a vital cornerstone of CF therapy; and this is worrisome.