Summary
This Mendelian randomization study of 2.6 million individuals examined causal relationships between physical activity, leisure sedentary behaviours and COVID-19 outcomes using genetic data. Accelerometer-assessed physical activity was protective against COVID-19 hospitalisation, whilst leisure television watching substantially increased both hospitalisation and severe disease risk. The associations appeared mediated partly by metabolic risk factors including smoking, elevated body mass index and serum triglycerides.
UK applicability
The genetic findings on physical activity and sedentary behaviour are broadly applicable to UK populations, given the use of large-scale international cohorts. UK policy makers addressing COVID-19 prevention and managing pandemic-related restrictions may benefit from evidence linking leisure sedentary behaviours to disease severity, particularly regarding public health messaging around activity during lockdowns.
Key measures
Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals for COVID-19 hospitalisation and severity; inverse variance weighted, MR-Egger, weighted median and MR-PRESSO estimates; sensitivity analyses including Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, leave-one-out analysis
Outcomes reported
The study estimated causal effects of physical activity and leisure sedentary behaviours on COVID-19 susceptibility, hospitalisation and severity using genetic variants as instrumental variables. Risk factor analyses investigated potential metabolic mediators of observed associations.
Topic tags
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