Older Women Who Practiced Physical Exercises before the COVID-19 Pandemic Present Metabolic Alterations and Worsened Functional Physical Capacity after One Year of Social Isolation

Abstract

Background: Because the consequences of the lifestyle changes in older adults associated with the social isolation imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are not fully understood, here, we investigated the effects of one year of social isolation imposed by COVID-19 on the metabolic parameters and functional physical capacity of older women who regularly practiced physical exercises before the pandemic. Methods: Systemic lipid and protein profiles, estimated creatinine clearance (ECC), and functional physical capacity (FPC) were assessed before (January-February 2020) and 12 months after social isolation in 30 older women (mean age 73.77 ± 6.22) who were engaged in a combined-exercise training program for at least 3 years before the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: In this group, we observed increased plasma levels of triglycerides and creatinine, an increase in the time necessary to perform gait speed and time-up-and-go tests, and reduced muscle strength assessed by the handgrip test and ECC post-COVID-19 pandemic relative to values recorded pre-pandemic. In addition, we observed significant correlations (both negative and positive) between anthropometric, some metabolic parameters, and physical tests. Conclusion: One year of interruption of physical exercise practice imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered some systemic metabolic parameters and worsened ECC and FPC in older women.

Variante da Subunidade Beta 3 da Proteína G ( GNB3 ) Está Associada a Alterações Bioquímicas em Pacientes Brasileiros com Hipertensão

“…Our finding of higher levels of LDL-cholesterol in normotensive individuals with at least one T allele may be due to the fact that the biological samples were collected during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have favored increased ultra-processed food consumption combined with a sedentary lifestyle motivated by social isolation. 24 , 25 Similar results were found by Siffert et al 7 who showed higher levels of LDL-cholesterol in a normotensive population without pre-existing disease, with at least one T allele.…”

“…Nosso achado de níveis mais elevados de colesterol LDL em indivíduos normotensos com pelo menos um alelo T pode ser devido ao fato de as amostras biológicas terem sido coletadas durante o período da pandemia de COVID-19, o que pode ter favorecido o aumento do consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados combinado com um estilo de vida sedentário motivado pelo isolamento social. 24 , 25 Foram encontrados resultados semelhantes por Siffert et al, 7 que verificaram níveis mais elevados de LDL-colesterol em uma população normotensa sem doença pré-existente, com pelo menos um alelo T.…”

Older Adults Who Maintained a Regular Physical Exercise Routine before the Pandemic Show Better Immune Response to Vaccination for COVID-19

“…In fact, the immunogenicity found in the NPE group was higher (66.7%) than the values found in the PE group (56.5%), which can demonstrate that the interruption of the regular practice of exercise training for one year could negatively impact the immune response of some older adults to vaccination. By the way, our group recently published a study reporting that the social isolation imposed by the pandemic was able to significantly alter some metabolic parameters and worsen the functional physical capacity of an older women group previously exercised [51]. It is of utmost importance to cite that the immunogenicity found in the groups vaccinated with ChadOx-1, regardless of the previous practice or not of exercise training, was above that frequently observed for older adults, which is around 40-50%, as formerly mentioned [42].…”

Exercise Evaluation and Prescription in Older Adults

“…In this process, it is evident that understanding social isolation and the factors that affect the quality of life of the elderly, including mental capacity, metabolic parameters, fear of falling, functional balance, and frailty, is extremely relevant [3]. From this point of view, Cezário and colleagues presented significant results by highlighting the importance of keeping an active lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic era aiming to maintain physical-functional and metabolic characteristics, in a study involving community-dwelling older people [4].…”