Nutritional and lifestyle changes required for minimizing the recovery period in home quarantined COVID-19 patients of Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced a new battle in human history for a safe and fearless life. Therefore, this cross-sectional survey was conducted (Punjab, Pakistan) on healthy recovered, home quarantined COVID-19 patients to draw conclusive health support guidelines in the fight against this pandemic. COVID-19 recovered patients (n = 80) of age ≥14 years were randomly selected during the period November 2020 to February 2021. A nutrition and lifestyle changes questionnaire, containing ten sections and seventy questions, was completed through the telephone/WhatsApp. Data were transferred into an Excel spreadsheet and statistically analyzed by applying chi-square, correlation, and a t test of independent values using SPSS-16 software. The patients had an age range of 14 to 80 years, of which 52 (65%) were male and 28 (35%) were female, and 32 (40%) had a normal BMI. The patients had a peak COVID-19 recovery period of 2 weeks, and a mean recovery period of 2.8 ± 1.4 weeks. Certain variables, including gender (males), age (>40 years), sleep (≤5 hr), less/no physical activity, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and autoimmune diseases, were significantly associated with delayed recovery. Poor nutritional outcomes, including lower intakes of water, legumes, nuts, meat, and milk/yogurt; and higher consumption of fast/fried/junk/spicy foods and cold water/drinks, were also significantly associated with a longer recovery period. The results were similar for not taking daily doses of multivitamins, and vitamins C, D, E, and zinc. This study identified that staying physically active, maintaining sensible body weight, having a sleep of 7 hr, consuming more foods of plant origin especially plant-based proteins from nuts and legumes, taking supplemental doses of multivitamins, vitamin D, E, and zinc, along with drinking ≥2 L of water daily can provide a significant role in early and safe recovery from COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID‐19; lifestyle; nutrition; recovery; vitamin supplements.

FIGURE 1

Outcomes (%) for COVID‐19 infection, detection and recovery period

FIGURE 2

Age, gender, BMI distribution

FIGURE 3

Body wt. changes and past medical history distribution along recovery period. ^*a. (% disease distribution); b. weight change (1 = gain, 2 = loss, 3 = stable), c. d. e. f (1 = yes, 2 = no)

FIGURE 4

Symptoms, food consumption and nutritional modification distribution (%)

FIGURE 5

Apparent symptoms distribution along recovery period. ^*a, b, c, d, f, g (1 = yes, 2 = no); e (fever intensity [1 = high, 2 = moderate, 3 = mild])

FIGURE 6

Life style (steam, smoking, sleep & activity) distribution along recovery period. ^*a, b (1 = yes, 2 = no); c, e (1 = very active, 2 = fairly active, 3 = less/No active); d (5 = ≤5, 6 = 6, 7 = 7, 8 = 8, 9 = ≥9 hr/day)

FIGURE 7

Major food and supplements consumption distribution along recovery period. *a, b, d, e, f (1 = yes, 2 = no); c (0.5 to 3 portions, where 1 portion =150 ml)