The Impact of Sport Activity Shut down during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults: Was It Worthwhile?

Sara Raimondi, Giulio Cammarata, Giovanna Testa, Federica Bellerba, Federica Galli, Patrizia Gnagnarella, Maria Luisa Iannuzzo, Dorotea Ricci, Alessandro Sartorio, Clementina Sasso, Gabriella Pravettoni and Sara Gandini
Additional contact information
Sara Raimondi: Molecular and Pharmaco-Epidemiology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20139 Milan, Italy
Giulio Cammarata: Molecular and Pharmaco-Epidemiology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20139 Milan, Italy
Giovanna Testa: Independent Researcher, 20121 Milan, Italy
Federica Bellerba: Molecular and Pharmaco-Epidemiology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20139 Milan, Italy
Federica Galli: Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Patrizia Gnagnarella: Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
Maria Luisa Iannuzzo: AULSS 9 Scaligera-Dipartimento di Prevenzione-UOC Medicina Legale, 37139 Verona, Italy
Dorotea Ricci: Department of Human Sciences, MEDIS-Maxi Emergencies International School, 47890 San Marino, San Marino
Alessandro Sartorio: Experimental Laboratory for Auxo-Endocrinological Research, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, 28824 Piancavallo, Italy
Clementina Sasso: INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, 80131 Naples, Italy
Gabriella Pravettoni: Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
Sara Gandini: Molecular and Pharmaco-Epidemiology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20139 Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 13, 1-12

Abstract: We conducted a national retrospective survey of 1764 athletes aged ≤25 years to investigate the benefit–risk balance of sport closure during the COVID-19 pandemic peaks in Italy. Univariate and multivariable analyses were carried out to investigate the association between sport practice during the study period and (1) the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in athletes and their families and (2) body mass index (BMI) change, and adherence to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for physical activity. The percentage of subjects with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test was similar in those participating and not taking part into sport activities (11% vs. 12%, respectively, p = 0.31). Restricting the analysis to subjects who practiced sports within an organized sport society/center, the risk of SARS-CoV-2 positivity was reduced for athletes who had never stopped their training (odds ratio (OR); 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.62; 0.41–0.93). On the other side, responders who had stopped sport activity showed a 1% increase in BMI. Adherence to WHO guidelines for physical activity was significantly higher for athletes who had continued sport activities. In conclusion, sport closure and limitations had an important negative impact on the overall health of young athletes, being also not effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; children; adolescents; young adults; sport closure; lockdown (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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