A healthy lifestyle lowers the risk of post-COVID complications, research shows

Based on the UK Biobank cohort of more than 68,000 people, a new study led by Dr. Junqing Xie the impact of various lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, BMI, physical activity, sedentary time, sleep duration and dietary habits on post-COVID complications, hospitalization and death.

Published in Nature communicationand featured as an editorial highlight of recent public health research, the study found that individuals with favorable lifestyles had a lower risk of hospitalization, a lower incidence of long-term or persistent health problems affecting multiple parts of the body, and a reduced risk of death after COVID, compared to those with unfavorable lifestyles.

The benefits of a healthy lifestyle were observed in all 10 organs, including cardiovascular, coagulation, metabolic, gastrointestinal, renal, mental health, musculoskeletal, respiratory disorders and fatigue.

Importantly, the researchers found that adopting a healthy lifestyle can provide immediate protection against post-COVID complications, in addition to reducing the risk of severe illness during initial infection. The benefits of a healthy lifestyle were also consistent regardless of disease severity, vaccination status, hospitalization or SARS-CoV-2 variant.

Dr. Junqing Xie, a postdoc and extraordinary junior research fellow, said: “The data from our study is a compelling reminder that maintaining a healthy lifestyle will not only increase resilience to many chronic diseases, but also the ability to deal with unwanted diseases to deal with. strains, such as COVID-19.”

The findings are consistent with previous evidence on the broader benefits of a healthy lifestyle for chronic disease prevention and life expectancy. But the findings are also relevant for preparing for future pandemics, providing a clear roadmap for patients, physicians and policymakers to prioritize preventive strategies that target modifiable lifestyle factors.