Association between regular physical activity and the protective effect of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in a South African case-control study.

Background: Both vaccination and physical activity have been shown to independently decrease the likelihood of severe COVID-19 infection.

Objective: To assess the association between regular physical activity and vaccination against COVID-19 among healthcare workers.

Methods: A test negative case-control study design was used to estimate the risk of having an associated COVID-19-related hospital admission, among individuals who were unvaccinated compared with those who were fully vaccinated with Ad26.

A paediatric pain assessment and management survey at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Background: Painful experiences are common in the paediatric inpatient population. Immaturity and cognitive impairment may preclude clear description of such experiences, and requests for analgesia when needed. Methods of pain assessment and guidelines for treatment in the paediatric population are well established, but are not widely used.

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Extremely Low Birth Weight Survivors in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Background: Improved survival in extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI) in Sub-Saharan Africa has raised the question whether these survivors have an increased chance of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Objectives: To describe neurodevelopmental outcomes of ELBWI in a neonatal unit in South Africa.

Methods: This was a prospective follow-up study.

Small steps, strong shield: directly measured, moderate physical activity in 65 361 adults is associated with significant protective effects from severe COVID-19 outcomes.

Objective: To determine the association between directly measured physical activity and hospitalisation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, ventilation and mortality rates in patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19.

Methods: Directly measured physical activity data from 65 361 adult patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis from 19 March 2020 to 30 June 2021, were grouped by activity level: low (<60 min/week), moderate (60-149 min/week) and high activity (≥150 min/week). The association of physical activity levels and the risk of adverse outcomes was analysed using modified Poisson regression.