The association between healthy walking and COVID-19 symptom severity: A cross-sectional study on the first peak following China’s prevention policy change
Abstract Background Healthy walking is a moderate aerobic exercise with a step frequency of more than 100 steps per minute. This study aims to assess the impact of Healthy Walking, a novel form of physical activity, on the severity and course of COVID-19 among patients aged from 18 to 65 years old....
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2025-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22748-7 |
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| author | Wanyuan Xia Daikun Zheng Xiaomin chen Liliang Yu Xiujuan Jiang Mingyue Fan Haifang ZOU ChangFeng Li Min Liu Yan Zhao Jiming Kang |
| author_facet | Wanyuan Xia Daikun Zheng Xiaomin chen Liliang Yu Xiujuan Jiang Mingyue Fan Haifang ZOU ChangFeng Li Min Liu Yan Zhao Jiming Kang |
| author_sort | Wanyuan Xia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Healthy walking is a moderate aerobic exercise with a step frequency of more than 100 steps per minute. This study aims to assess the impact of Healthy Walking, a novel form of physical activity, on the severity and course of COVID-19 among patients aged from 18 to 65 years old. Methods This cross-sectional study included 1,128 adult participants who completed the questionnaire after recovering from the first wave of COVID-19 infections following China`s modification of its prevention policy. The survey questions included their health status when suffering from COVID-19, basic sociodemographic data, and medical history concerning chronic conditions and lifestyle. A multiple logistic regression model and linear regression model were used to evaluate the dependent variable that reflects the severity of COVID-19 infection. Results Among the 1,128 adult participants, the mean age was 39.93 ± 10.18 (IQR: 31.75-48), and 407 (36.08%) were male. Participants who walked up to 300 min per week had a negative association with COVID-19 (OR: 0.562, 95% CI: 0.41–0.863). Receiving three vaccine doses was negatively associated with severe COVID-19 (OR: 0.289, 95% CI:0.092–0.742) compared with receiving only one dose. Females (OR: 1.935, 95% CI:1.475–2.540) had a positive association with severe COVID-19, also a high incidence of co-habitatants was also positively associated (OR: 2.741, 95% CI:1.284–5.881) In the linear model assessing risk factor affecting the course of COVID-19, habitual Healthy Walking ( $$\:\beta\:$$ =-0.433, $$\:p$$ =0.004) was linked to a reduced disease duration after adjusting all significant risk factors. Conclusions Regular Healthy Walking may help alleviate symptoms and speed up recovery. Therefore, incorporating walking into other physical exercise may reduce COVID-19 symptom severity and speed up COVID-19 recovery. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-66ac5656e30a4d8e88e437b282e644aa |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-66ac5656e30a4d8e88e437b282e644aa2025-08-20T03:15:14ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-04-012511910.1186/s12889-025-22748-7The association between healthy walking and COVID-19 symptom severity: A cross-sectional study on the first peak following China’s prevention policy changeWanyuan Xia0Daikun Zheng1Xiaomin chen2Liliang Yu3Xiujuan Jiang4Mingyue Fan5Haifang ZOU6ChangFeng Li7Min Liu8Yan Zhao9Jiming Kang10School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Three Gorges Medical CollegeSchool of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Three Gorges Medical CollegeChaling Center for Disease Prevention and ControlSchool of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Three Gorges Medical CollegeSchool of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Three Gorges Medical CollegeSchool of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Three Gorges Medical CollegeZhiping Central HospitalSchool of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Three Gorges Medical CollegeSchool of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Three Gorges Medical CollegeMinistry of Public Infrastructure, Chongqing Three Gorges Medical CollegeSchool of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Three Gorges Medical CollegeAbstract Background Healthy walking is a moderate aerobic exercise with a step frequency of more than 100 steps per minute. This study aims to assess the impact of Healthy Walking, a novel form of physical activity, on the severity and course of COVID-19 among patients aged from 18 to 65 years old. Methods This cross-sectional study included 1,128 adult participants who completed the questionnaire after recovering from the first wave of COVID-19 infections following China`s modification of its prevention policy. The survey questions included their health status when suffering from COVID-19, basic sociodemographic data, and medical history concerning chronic conditions and lifestyle. A multiple logistic regression model and linear regression model were used to evaluate the dependent variable that reflects the severity of COVID-19 infection. Results Among the 1,128 adult participants, the mean age was 39.93 ± 10.18 (IQR: 31.75-48), and 407 (36.08%) were male. Participants who walked up to 300 min per week had a negative association with COVID-19 (OR: 0.562, 95% CI: 0.41–0.863). Receiving three vaccine doses was negatively associated with severe COVID-19 (OR: 0.289, 95% CI:0.092–0.742) compared with receiving only one dose. Females (OR: 1.935, 95% CI:1.475–2.540) had a positive association with severe COVID-19, also a high incidence of co-habitatants was also positively associated (OR: 2.741, 95% CI:1.284–5.881) In the linear model assessing risk factor affecting the course of COVID-19, habitual Healthy Walking ( $$\:\beta\:$$ =-0.433, $$\:p$$ =0.004) was linked to a reduced disease duration after adjusting all significant risk factors. Conclusions Regular Healthy Walking may help alleviate symptoms and speed up recovery. Therefore, incorporating walking into other physical exercise may reduce COVID-19 symptom severity and speed up COVID-19 recovery.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22748-7SARS-COV-2ExercisePhysical activityHealthy walking |
| spellingShingle | Wanyuan Xia Daikun Zheng Xiaomin chen Liliang Yu Xiujuan Jiang Mingyue Fan Haifang ZOU ChangFeng Li Min Liu Yan Zhao Jiming Kang The association between healthy walking and COVID-19 symptom severity: A cross-sectional study on the first peak following China’s prevention policy change BMC Public Health SARS-COV-2 Exercise Physical activity Healthy walking |
| title | The association between healthy walking and COVID-19 symptom severity: A cross-sectional study on the first peak following China’s prevention policy change |
| title_full | The association between healthy walking and COVID-19 symptom severity: A cross-sectional study on the first peak following China’s prevention policy change |
| title_fullStr | The association between healthy walking and COVID-19 symptom severity: A cross-sectional study on the first peak following China’s prevention policy change |
| title_full_unstemmed | The association between healthy walking and COVID-19 symptom severity: A cross-sectional study on the first peak following China’s prevention policy change |
| title_short | The association between healthy walking and COVID-19 symptom severity: A cross-sectional study on the first peak following China’s prevention policy change |
| title_sort | association between healthy walking and covid 19 symptom severity a cross sectional study on the first peak following china s prevention policy change |
| topic | SARS-COV-2 Exercise Physical activity Healthy walking |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22748-7 |
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