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Outdoor Activities Associated with Lower Odds of SARS-CoV-2 Acquisition: A Case–Control Study

Author

Listed:
  • Tommaso C. Bulfone

    (School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
    School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA)

  • Cinthia Blat

    (Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
    Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA)

  • Yea-Hung Chen

    (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA)

  • George W. Rutherford

    (Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
    Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA)

  • Luis Gutierrez-Mock

    (Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA)

  • Andrea Nickerson

    (Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA)

  • Laura Buback

    (Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA)

  • Susie Welty

    (Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA)

  • Karen Sokal-Gutierrez

    (School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA)

  • Wayne T. A. Enanoria

    (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
    San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA)

  • Michael J. A. Reid

    (School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
    Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
    Department of Medicine, Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA)

Abstract

Access to recreational physical activities, particularly in outdoor spaces, has been a crucial outlet for physical and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need to understand how conducting these activities modulates the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this case–control study of unvaccinated individuals conducted in San Francisco, California, the odds of testing positive to SARS-CoV-2 were lower for those who conducted physical activity in outdoor locations (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.05, 0.40) in the two weeks prior to testing than for those who conducted no activity or indoor physical activity only. Individuals who visited outdoor parks, beaches, or playgrounds also had lower odds of testing positive to SARS-CoV-2 (aOR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.68) as compared with those who did not visit outdoor parks, beaches, or playgrounds. These findings, albeit in an unvaccinated population, offer observational data to support pre-existing ecological studies that suggest that activity in outdoor spaces lowers COVID-19 risk.

Suggested Citation

  • Tommaso C. Bulfone & Cinthia Blat & Yea-Hung Chen & George W. Rutherford & Luis Gutierrez-Mock & Andrea Nickerson & Laura Buback & Susie Welty & Karen Sokal-Gutierrez & Wayne T. A. Enanoria & Michael , 2022. "Outdoor Activities Associated with Lower Odds of SARS-CoV-2 Acquisition: A Case–Control Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-6, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:10:p:6126-:d:818141
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Megan Heckert & Amanda Bristowe, 2021. "Parks and the Pandemic: A Scoping Review of Research on Green Infrastructure Use and Health Outcomes during COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Seulkee Heo & Miraj U. Desai & Sarah R. Lowe & Michelle L. Bell, 2021. "Impact of Changed Use of Greenspace during COVID-19 Pandemic on Depression and Anxiety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-18, May.
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