Lifestyle modifications

NUTRITION

  • A high quality dietary pattern, particularly a plant based diet and a mediterranean diet, is associated with reduced risk of COVID-19 infection and hospitalization (4)
  • Insufficient levels of vitamin D is associated with increased risk of COVID-19 infection (5), hospitalization and mortality (6, 7).

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

  • The first meta-analysis on the topic shows significant association between physical activity level and COVID-19 hospitalization, ICU admission and mortality. Particularly was a history of aerob or resistance training associated with reduced risk of hospitalization, ICU admission and mortality (4)

SMOKING

  • Current and former smokers are at increased risk of dying from COVID-19 (1)

WEIGHT

  • Being overweight increases the risk of hospitalization with COVID-19 (2)
  • Being obese increases the risk of COVID-19 related hospitalization and death (2, 3)
  • These associations were stronger for the first wave of the pandemic (2)

References

1) https://academic.oup.com/ntr/article/25/2/177/6562455

2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8783972/

3) https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2022.780872/full

4) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jmv.28298

5) https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.624559/full

6) https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408398.2020.1841090

7) https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/12/2/247

Resources

EXPLANATION TO EVIDENCE PRESENTATION

Figure: Evidence pyramid

​Evidence based on guidelines and evidence based Clinical Decision Systems is written in BOLD font

​Evidence based on meta analysis or systematic reviews is written in BOLD and CURSIVE font

​Evidence based on randomized controlled trials is written in PLAIN font

​Evidence based on observational / cohort studies is written in CURSIVE font