IBH-PC data used to assess effects of exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic

Congratulations to Levi Bonnell, UVM Doctoral Candidate, and his collaborators for their latest publication based on data from the Integrating Behavioral Health in Primary Care study.

The Relationship Between Mental and Physical Health and Walking During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Levi N. Bonnell, Jessica Clifton, Mariana Wingood, Nancy Gell and Benjamin Littenberg

The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine September 2022, https://www.jabfm.org/content/early/2022/09/01/jabfm.2022.AP.220090

Introduction: COVID-19 policies such as quarantining, social isolation, and lockdowns are an essential public health measure to reduce the spread of disease but may lead to reduced physical activity. Little is known if these changes are associated with changes in physical or mental health.

Methods: Between September 2017 and December 2018 (baseline) and March 2020 and February 2021 (follow-up), we obtained self-reported demographic, health, and walking (only at follow-up) data on 2042 adults in primary care with multiple chronic health conditions. We examined whether the perceived amount of time engaged in walking was different compared with prepandemic levels and if this was associated with changes in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-29 mental and physical health summary scores. Multivariable linear regression controlling for demographic, health, and neighborhood information were used to assess this association.

Results: Of the 2042 participants, 9% reported more walking, 28% reported less, and 52% reported the same amount compared with prepandemic levels. Nearly 1/3 of participants reported less walking during the pandemic. Multivariable models revealed that walking less or not at all was associated with negative changes in mental (ß = −1.0; 95% CI [−1.6, −0.5]; ß = −2.2; 95% CI [−2.9, −1.4]) and physical (ß = −0.9; 95% CI [−1.5, −0.3]; ß = −3.1; 95% CI [−4.0, −2.3]) health, respectively. Increasing walking was significantly associated with a positive change in physical health (ß = 1.3; 95% CI [0.3, 2.2]).

Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the importance of walking during the COVID-19 pandemic. Promotion of physical activity should be taken into consideration when mandating restrictions to slow the spread of disease. Primary care providers can assess patient’s walking patterns and implement brief interventions to help patients improve their physical and mental health through walking.

 

 

 

Walkability and health in IBH-PC

Using data from IBH-PC, Levi Bonnell, MPH led a team to analyze the effects of local geographic factors on health.

Bonnell LN, Troy AR, Littenberg B. Exploring non-linear relationships between neighbourhood walkability and health: a cross-sectional study among US primary care patients with chronic conditions. BMJ Open. 2022 Aug 19;12(8):e061086. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061086. PMID: 35985786. 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35985786/

 

 

Latest paper from IBH-PC appears as "abstract in press"

 

This just appeared in the "Abstracts in press" section of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. Stay tuned for the full article...

Walking Habits During the COVID-19 Pandemic Are Associated with Mental and Physical Health Among Primary Care Patients Managing Multiple Chronic Conditions

Levi N. Bonnell; Jessica Clifton; Mariana Wingood; Nancy Gell; Benjamin Littenberg

Section: Brief Report

Publication Date: TBD

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 policies such as quarantining, social isolation, and lockdowns are an essential public health measure to reduce the spread of disease, but may lead to reduced physical activity. Little is known if these changes are associated with changes in physical or mental health.

METHODS: Between September 2017 and December 2018 (baseline) and March 2020 and February 2021 (Follow-up), we obtained self-reported demographic, health, and walking (only at follow-up) data on 2,042 adults in primary care with multiple chronic health conditions. We examined whether the perceived amount of time engaged in walking was different compared to pre-pandemic levels, and if this was associated with changes in PROMIS-29 mental and physical health summary scores. Multivariable linear regression controlling for demographic, health, and neighborhood information were used to assess this association.

RESULTS: Of the 2,042 participants, 9% reported more walking, 28% reported less, and 52% reported the same amount compared to pre-pandemic levels. Nearly a third of participants reported less walking during the pandemic. Multivariable models revealed that walking less or not at all was associated with negative changes in mental (ß= -1.0; 95% CI -1.6, -0.5; ß= -2.2; 95% CI -2.9, -1.4) and physical (ß= -0.9; 95% CI -1.5, -0.3; ß= -3.1; 95% CI -4.0, -2.3) health, respectively. Increasing walking was significantly associated with a positive change in physical health (ß=1.3; 95% CI 0.3, 2.2).

CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate the importance of walking during the COVID-19 pandemic. Promotion of physical activity should be taken into consideration when mandating restrictions to slow the spread of disease. Primary care providers can assess patient’s walking patterns and implement brief interventions to help patients improve their physical and mental health through walking.