Physical activity, sedentary time, and associated factors in post-COVID-19 condition: a cross-sectional study.

The study could only show associations at one time point, not that POTS or other factors caused low activity or high sedentary time. Participants were adults attending a specialized post-COVID clinic during selected periods, so it may not apply to people who did not attend this clinic. Of 179 people who agreed to wear the monitor, 20 were excluded, leaving 159 analyzed. Some associations had wide confidence intervals, so the size of the link was uncertain. The monitor captured walking and posture, not cycling, swimming, or other exercises. Brisk walking was defined by cadence, which may not equal moderate intensity for every person. Awake time was inferred from activity patterns, not sleep diaries, which can be difficult for irregular schedules. Self-reported pre-COVID activity may be affected by memory. Data collection during the pandemic led to some missing values, though the authors say overall missingness was small.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest. Funding came from the Swedish Heart Lung Foundation, the Swedish Research Council, Odd Fellows, and the Bygg-Göta Foundation.

Do not conclude that POTS causes low physical activity or prolonged sedentary time. The study measured associations at one time point in a specialized post-COVID clinic sample, so it cannot show cause or effect.