scholarly journals Home Working and Physical Activity during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (24) ◽  
pp. 13021
Author(s):  
Venerando Rapisarda ◽  
Carla Loreto ◽  
Laura De Angelis ◽  
Giuditta Simoncelli ◽  
Claudia Lombardo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Sedentary Time ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Longitudinal Cohort Study ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Longitudinal Cohort ◽  
Average Body Mass ◽  
Home Workers

Background: Due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, human lifestyles and occupational settings have changed in the workplace. This survey explores associations of home working employment and related physical activity (PA–MET min/week). Methods: A longitudinal cohort study was conducted between March 2020 and March 2021. A standardized method for assessing PA and sedentary time, the Italian version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), was used through the Microsoft Forms® platform for self-administering the questionnaire. Baseline data were collected, and four follow-ups were performed; a full calendar year was observed. Results: In total, 310 home workers were recruited in this investigation. The average body mass index (BMI- kg/m2) was 21.4 ± 4.2 at baseline. The value increased at the first follow-up and fluctuated in the other recalls. The t-test of MET values of the four activities (Total PA, Vigorous-intensity activity, Moderate-intensity activity, Walking) show similar results; the total PA, at baseline 275.7 ± 138.6, decreased statistically significantly at the first (198.5 ± 84.6), third (174.9 ± 98.4), and fourth (188.7 ± 78.5) follow-ups, while it increased statistically significantly at the second follow-up (307.1 ± 106.1) compared to the baseline. Sedentary time was constant until the second follow-up, while it increased statistically significantly at the 3rd and 4th follow-up. Conclusion: workers involved reduced and reorganized their PA during this pandemic year. Each business company should intervene to improve the PA levels of workers and reduce sedentary behavior in the workplace.

scholarly journals Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in cardiovascular disease patients during the COVID-19 lockdown in the Netherlands; a longitudinal cohort study

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
BMA Van Bakel ◽  
EA Bakker ◽  
F De Vries ◽  
DHJ Thijssen ◽  
TMH Eijsvogels
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Sedentary Behaviour ◽  
Sedentary Time ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Longitudinal Cohort Study

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Dutch Heart Foundation - senior E-Dekker grant Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in cardiovascular disease patients during the COVID-19 lockdown in the Netherlands; a longitudinal cohort study Background Previous studies showed that the COVID-19 lockdown caused a more inactive lifestyle, but it is unknown whether these acute effects persist over time. We prospectively evaluated changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviour among chronic cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients during the first-wave COVID-19 lockdown and aimed to identify factors associated with physical inactivity. Methods 1,565 CVD patients were included and baseline physical activity and sedentary behaviour were assessed using validated questionnaires at 5 weeks after the initiation of the Dutch lockdown (March 2020). Follow-up measures were collected every subsequent 4 weeks until July 2020. Multivariate mixed model analyses were performed to identify whether age, gender, CVD subtype, lockdown adherence and mental health factors impacted changes in physical (in)activity. Results Patients were 67 (interquartile range [60, 73]) years, mostly male (73%) and primarily diagnosed with myocardial infarction (48%) or angina pectoris (18%). Daily time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was 143 minutes (95% confidence interval (CI) 137; 148) at baseline, with almost no changes during follow-up on a group level (Δ+8.0 (95%CI -1.1; 17.0); Δ+11.2 (95%CI 1.9; 20.5) and Δ+8.0 (95%CI -1.5; 17.5) min/day after 4, 8 and 12 weeks, respectively).Female gender (Δ-40.7 (95%CI -48.5; -33.0) min/day); heart failure (Δ-23.0 (95%CI -36.5; -9.5) min/day); fear of a COVID-19 infection (Δ-6.6 (95%CI -9.4; -3.8) min/day) and limited possibilities for physical activity (Δ-7.4 (95%CI -10.1; -4.7) min/day) were independently associated with a decrease in physical activity. Sedentary time was 567 (95%CI 555; 578) min/day at baseline which did not change after 4 weeks (Δ+12.1 (95%CI -6.0; 30.2) min/day) and after 8 weeks (Δ+15.2 (95%CI -3.3; 33.8) min/day), but significantly increased after 12 weeks of follow-up (Δ+19.0 (95%CI 0.1; 37.8) min/day). Lack of social contact (Δ+8.4 (95%CI 2.3; 14.5); limited possibilities for physical activity (Δ+14.7 (95%CI 8.8; 20.5) and younger age (Δ+2.1 (95%CI 1.3; 2.8) min/day were independently associated with an increase in sedentary time. Conclusions A time-dependent increase in daily sedentary time was observed among chronic CVD patients during the COVID-19 lockdown, whereas physical activity levels did not substantially change. Our findings highlight the need to develop and implement novel solutions to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary time during (and beyond) the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in CVD patients who are female, younger, diagnosed with heart failure, have a lack of social contact, fear of COVID-19 infection and experience limited physical activity possibilities during the lockdown.

scholarly journals Transitions between levels of dependency among older people receiving social care – a retrospective longitudinal cohort study in a Swedish municipality

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Magnus Zingmark ◽  
Fredrik Norström
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Older People ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards Model ◽  
Longitudinal Cohort Study ◽  
Longitudinal Cohort ◽  
Home Help ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background Knowledge is scarce on how needs for home help and special housing evolve among older people who begin to receive support from municipal social care. The purpose of this study was to describe baseline distributions and transitions over time between levels of dependency among older persons after being granted social care in a Swedish municipality. Methods Based on a longitudinal cohort study in a Swedish municipality, data was collected retrospectively from municipal records. All persons 65 years or older who received their first decision on social care during 2010 (n = 415) were categorized as being in mild, moderate, severe, or total dependency, and were observed until the end of 2013. Baseline distributions and transitions over time were described descriptively and analysed with survival analysis, with the Kaplan-Meier estimator, over the entire follow-up period. To test potential differences in relation to gender, we used the Cox-Proportional hazards model. Results Baseline distributions between mild, moderate, severe, and total dependency were 53, 16, 24, and 7.7%. During the first year, between 40 and 63% remained at their initial level of dependency. Among those with mild and moderate levels of dependency at baseline, a large proportion declined towards increasing levels of dependency over time; around 40% had increased their dependency level 1 year from baseline and at the end of the follow-up, 75% had increased their dependency level or died. Conclusions Older people in Sweden being allocated home help are at high risk for decline towards higher levels of dependency, especially those at mild or moderate dependency levels at baseline. Taken together, it is important that municipalities make use of existing knowledge so that they implement cost-effective preventative interventions for older people at an early stage before a decline toward increasing levels of dependency.

scholarly journals The impact of the Safer Anaesthesia from Education (SAFE) Obstetric Anaesthesia training course in Ethiopia: A mixed methods longitudinal cohort study

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 297-305
Author(s):  
Jolene N Moore ◽  
Wayne W Morriss ◽  
Gebrehiwot Asfaw ◽  
Gosa Tesfaye ◽  
Aaliya R Ahmed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Maternal Mortality ◽  
Longitudinal Cohort Study ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Longitudinal Cohort ◽  
Obstetric Anaesthesia ◽  
The Impact

Summary Reducing maternal mortality remains a global priority, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The Safer Anaesthesia from Education (SAFE) Obstetric Anaesthesia (OB) course is a three-day refresher course for trained anaesthesia providers addressing common causes of maternal mortality in LMICs. This aim of this study was to investigate the impact of SAFE training for a cohort of anaesthesia providers in Ethiopia. We conducted a mixed methods longitudinal cohort study incorporating a behavioural questionnaire, multiple-choice questionnaires (MCQs), structured observational skills tests and structured interviews for anaesthesia providers who attended one of four SAFE-OB courses conducted in two regions of Ethiopia from October 2017 to May 2018. Some 149 participants from 60 facilities attended training. Behavioural questionnaires were completed at baseline ( n = 101, 69% response rate). Pre- and post-course MCQs ( n = 121, n = 123 respectively) and pre- and post-course skills tests ( n = 123, n = 105 respectively) were completed, with repeat MCQ and skills tests, and semi-structured interviews completed at follow-up ( n = 88, n = 76, n = 49 respectively). The mean MCQ scores for all participants improved from 80.3% prior to training to 85.4% following training ( P < 0.0001) and skills test scores improved from 56.5% to 83.2% ( P < 0.0001). Improvements in MCQs and skills were maintained at follow-up 3–11 months post-training compared to baseline ( P = 0.0006, < 0.0001 respectively). Participants reported improved confidence, teamwork and communication at follow-up. This study suggests that the SAFE-OB course can have a sustained impact on knowledge and skills and can improve the confidence of anaesthesia providers and communication within surgical teams.

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