Leisure-time physical activity and the risk of suspected bacterial infections

INTRODUCTION: The risk of upper-respiratory tract viral infections is reduced with increased physical activity, but little information is available regarding bacterial infections. We examined the relationship between leisure-time physical activity and suspected bacterial infections.

METHODS: Information on leisure-time physical activity was obtained from the 2007 and 2010 North Denmark Region Health Surveys of 18,874 Danes and linked to data from nationwide administrative registries. Suspected bacterial infections were determined based on filled prescriptions for antibiotics. Adjusted estimates were calculated using logistic regression models.

RESULTS: During a one-year follow-up, 5,368 participants filled at least one antibiotic prescription. There was a statistically significant difference between physical activity level and filling any antibiotic prescriptions among women (p=0.003) but not among men (p=0.191). Logistic regression analysis showed that compared with sedentary behaviour, all levels of leisure-time physical activities lowered the likelihood of filling an antibiotic prescription. However, after multivariable adjustments, only estimates of low physical activity were significant (OR 0.90; 95% CI 0.82; 0.99). Multivariable adjusted subgroup analyses of suspected cystitis showed a decreased likelihood of engaging in low (OR 0.79; 95% CI 0.65; 0.95) and moderate (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.54; 0.87) physical activity.

CONCLUSION: Low leisure-time physical activity is associated with a statistically significant 10% lower risk of suspected bacterial infections over a one-year follow-up compared with sedentary behaviour. Further, low and moderate physical activity was associated with statistical significant reduction of suspected cystitis. No reduction in suspected respiratory tract infections was statistical significant associated with physical activity compared to sedentary behaviour.This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially.