Effects of Exercise and Physical Activity Levels on Vaccination Efficacy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Objective: We examined whether different intensities of exercise and/or physical activity (PA) levels affected and/or associated with vaccination efficacy. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021230108). The PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library (trials), SportDiscus, and CINAHL databases were searched up to January 2022. Results: In total, 38 eligible studies were included. Chronic exercise increased influenza antibodies (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.49, confidence interval (CI) = 0.25–0.73, Z = 3.95, I2 = 90%, p < 0.01), which was mainly driven by aerobic exercise (SMD = 0.39, CI = 0.19–0.58, Z = 3.96, I2 = 77%, p < 0.01) as opposed to combined (aerobic + resistance; p = 0.07) or other exercise types (i.e., taiji and qigong, unspecified; p > 0.05). PA levels positively affected antibodies in response to influenza vaccination (SMD = 0.18, CI = 0.02–0.34, Z = 2.21, I2 = 76%, p = 0.03), which was mainly driven by high PA levels compared to moderate PA levels (Chi2 = 10.35, I2 = 90.3%, p < 0.01). Physically active individuals developed influenza antibodies in response to vaccination in >4 weeks (SMD = 0.64, CI = 0.30–0.98, Z = 3.72, I2 = 83%, p < 0.01) as opposed to <4 weeks (p > 0.05; Chi2 = 13.40, I2 = 92.5%, p < 0.01) post vaccination. Conclusion: Chronic aerobic exercise or high PA levels increased influenza antibodies in humans more than vaccinated individuals with no participation in exercise/PA. The evidence regarding the effects of exercise/PA levels on antibodies in response to vaccines other than influenza is extremely limited.

Leisure-time physical activity and mortality from influenza and pneumonia: a cohort study of 577 909 US adults

“…In a recent meta-analysis, habitual aerobic physical activity level was positively correlated with antibody titers following influenza vaccination, but not pneumococcal vaccination. 33 Evidence for physical activity as an acute vaccine adjuvant is more tenuous, although this may reflect intervention heterogeneity in clinical trials. For example, older adults randomised to a 10-month aerobic activity programme prior to influenza vaccination sustained seroprotection for a longer duration than those randomised to a flexibility and balance programme.…”

Analysis of Vaccine efficacy during the COVID-19 pandemic period using CSF-ELECTRE-I approach

“…The physical activity in an individual also play a important role in determining the vaccine efficacy. Chronic aerobic exercise or physical activity high levels elevated influenza antibodies in humans more than vaccinated individuals who did not participate in exercise or physical activity [14] . As new understanding of the immunogenicity of several vaccine candidates is evaluated in the clinic, the variety of immune protective mechanisms that may be leveraged to develop unique vaccines that provide lasting protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection is explored [15] .…”

“…An account of the vaccine effectiveness during the pandemic period, the preliminary measures regard outbreak is discussed for vulnerable groups. The people who are easily diseased such as physically challenged [14] , elder [8] , women [9] , [10] , [11] , person with comorbidities [12] , mentally challenged [13] . Those informations are studied through the literary survey and we set up them as alternatives physically challenged , elder , women , person with comorbidities , mentally challenged .…”

Factors associated with meeting physical activity guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Understanding these factors is critical to informing future infectious disease mitigation policies that promote, rather than hinder physical activity [ 8 ]. This is especially important given evidence of the positive impact of physical activity on mental health during the pandemic [ 9 ], immune response to vaccination [ 10 ], COVID-19 outcomes [ 11 ], and critically, that physical inactivity will continue to be an important risk factor in future pandemics [ 12 – 14 ].…”