COVID-19 pandemic restrictions continuously impact on physical activity in adults with cystic fibrosis

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 16; no. 9; p. e0257852
• Main Authors: Radtke, Thomas, Haile, Sarah R., Dressel, Holger, Benden, Christian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco Public Library of Science 23.09.2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adults; Authorship; Biology and Life Sciences; Care and treatment; Chronic illnesses; Constrictions; Control; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines; Cystic fibrosis; Diagnosis; Disease prevention; Environmental health; Epidemics; Epidemiology; Exercise; Health aspects; Immunization; Inhalation; Laws, regulations and rules; Lung diseases; Lung transplantation; Lungs; Medical care; Medicine; Medicine and Health Sciences; Motivation; Outdoor activities; Pandemics; People and Places; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Physical training; Polls & surveys; Public opinion; Questionnaires; Questions; Research and Analysis Methods; Respiration; Respiratory therapy; Respiratory tract; Safety and security measures; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Signs and symptoms; Social research; Switzerland; Telemedicine; Therapy; Transplantation; Transplantation of organs, tissues, etc; Transplants & implants; Vaccination; Ventilation; Viral diseases; Switzerland; Istanbul Turkey; Turkey
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257852

We have recently reported reduced physical activity (PA) in people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) with and without lung transplantation (LTX) during a 6-week stringent lockdown in Switzerland. This follow-up study explores the impact of coronavirus-2019 disease (COVID-19) related pandemic restrictions on individuals' therapy regimens and health-related aspects in pwCF. We conducted a cross-sectional web-based national survey in Spring 2021. The survey included questions on daily PA, airway clearance and inhalation therapy, questions on COVID-19-compatible symptoms, diagnostic tests and vaccination status, and enquired health-related aspects covering the pandemic period between March 2020 to April 2021. 193 individuals with CF (53% female; 25% LTX recipients) participated. Among pwCF, 10 reported COVID-19 (n = 2 LTX recipients), two subjects were hospitalized, no invasive ventilation required, no deaths. The clinical course was generally mild. Overall, 46% reported less PA during the pandemic, mostly due to closed fitness facilities (85%), lack of motivation (34%), and changes in daily structures (21%). In contrast, 32/193 (17%) pwCF were able to increase their PA levels: 12 (38%) and 11 (34%) reported undertaking home-based training and outdoor activities more frequently; 6 (19%) reported an increase in routine PA, and another 3 (9%) started new activities. Among pwCF without LTX, 5% and 4% reported to undertake less airway clearance and inhalation therapy, respectively. Our study reveals unfavorable consequences of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on PA of pwCF with unknown long-term consequences for their overall physical fitness and lung health. Strategies to overcome this undesirable situation are needed; increased uptake of telehealth PA programs and virtual exercise classes to promote PA participation might be one promising approach along with vaccination of pwCF and their close contacts.