Impact of social restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical activity levels of adults aged 50–92 years: a baseline survey of the CHARIOT COVID-19 Rapid Response prospective cohort study
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Abstract
Physical inactivity is more common in older adults, is associated with social isolation and loneliness and contributes to increased morbidity and mortality. We examined the effect of social restrictions to reduce COVID-19 transmission in the UK (lockdown), on physical activity (PA) levels of older adults and the social predictors of any change.
Design
Baseline analysis of a survey-based prospective cohort study.
Setting
Adults enrolled in the Cognitive Health in Ageing Register for Investigational and Observational Trials cohort from general practitioner practices in North West London were invited to participate from April to July 2020.
Participants
6219 cognitively healthy adults aged 50–92 years completed the survey.
Main outcome measures
Self-reported PA before and after the introduction of lockdown, as measured by metabolic equivalent of task (MET) minutes. Associations of PA with demographic, lifestyle and social factors, mood and frailty.
Results
Mean PA was significantly lower following the introduction of lockdown from 3519 to 3185 MET min/week (p<0.001). After adjustment for confounders and prelockdown PA, lower levels of PA after the introduction of lockdown were found in those who were over 85 years old (640 (95% CI 246 to 1034) MET min/week less); were divorced or single (240 (95% CI 120 to 360) MET min/week less); living alone (277 (95% CI 152 to 402) MET min/week less); reported feeling lonely often (306 (95% CI 60 to 552) MET min/week less); and showed symptoms of depression (1007 (95% CI 612 to 1401) MET min/week less) compared with those aged 50–64 years, married, cohabiting and not reporting loneliness or depression, respectively.
Conclusions and implications
Markers of social isolation, loneliness and depression were associated with lower PA following the introduction of lockdown in the UK. Targeted interventions to increase PA in these groups should be considered.
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SciScore for 10.1101/2021.01.26.21250520: (What is this?)
Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.
Table 1: Rigor
Institutional Review Board Statement not detected. Randomization not detected. Blinding not detected. Power Analysis not detected. Sex as a biological variable not detected. Table 2: Resources
Software and Algorithms Sentences Resources 2.2 Statistical analysis: All analyses were conducted using Stata version 16.1 (StataCorp 2019) and R.16,17 Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in metres and categorised according to standard WHO criteria. StataCorpsuggested: (Stata, RRID:SCR_012763)Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).
Results from Li…SciScore for 10.1101/2021.01.26.21250520: (What is this?)
Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.
Table 1: Rigor
Institutional Review Board Statement not detected. Randomization not detected. Blinding not detected. Power Analysis not detected. Sex as a biological variable not detected. Table 2: Resources
Software and Algorithms Sentences Resources 2.2 Statistical analysis: All analyses were conducted using Stata version 16.1 (StataCorp 2019) and R.16,17 Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in metres and categorised according to standard WHO criteria. StataCorpsuggested: (Stata, RRID:SCR_012763)Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).
Results from LimitationRecognizer: We detected the following sentences addressing limitations in the study:4.6 Limitations: This study has several limitations which may impact the generalisability of our findings. First, the CCRR cohort appear more physically active than the general population. 90% of participants in CCRR achieved minimum UK 4 and WHO 3 guidance, both before and following lockdown. Over 78% achieved double this amount, and mean levels of PA were at least five times greater than the minimum recommendation. In contrast, only 61% of UK adults aged 55-74 years achieve minimum recommended levels.2 Despite this, CCRR participants may still not be active enough for major health gains. A 2016 systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that optimal risk reduction for breast and colorectal cancer, diabetes, ischaemic heart disease and stroke events were obtained from physical activity at 3000-4000 MET minutes per week.47 Second, there are differences in demography between the CCRR cohort and the general population of the UK, which may explain the higher levels of PA we observed. 93% of CCRR respondents identify as white/Caucasian ethnicity. The Active Lives Survey demonstrated a difference in those achieving minimum activity levels in White British individuals (65%) and those from Black (58%) and Asian (54%) ethnicities.2 Third, the CCRR survey relies on self- report, using the short form IPAQ. IPAQ data is well validated across diverse participants up to the age of 65 years 10 and a study of the performance of the IPAQ in older Japanese adults demonstrated adequate vali...
Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.
Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.
Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.
Results from rtransparent:- Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
- Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
- No protocol registration statement was detected.
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