dc.description.abstract | Background: During the Covid-19 pandemic the Dutch government implemented its so-called ‘intelligent
lockdown’ in which people were urged to leave their homes as little as possible and work from home. This life
changing event may have caused changes in lifestyle behaviour, an important factor in the onset and course of
diseases. The overarching aim of this study is to determine life-style related changes during the first wave of the
COVID-19 pandemic among a representative sample of the adult population in the Netherlands.<p>
Methods: Life-style related changes were studied among a random representative sample of the adult population
in the Netherlands using an online survey conducted from 22 to 27 May 2020. Differences in COVID-19-related
lifestyle changes between Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) users and non-CAM users were
determined. The survey included a modified version of the I-CAM-Q and 26 questions on lifestyle related measures,
anxiety, and need for support to maintain lifestyle changes.<p>
Results: 1004 respondents were included in the study, aged between 18 and 88 years (50.7% females). Changes to
a healthier lifestyle were observed in 19.3% of the population, mainly due to a change in diet habits, physical
activity and relaxation, of whom 56.2% reported to be motivated to maintain this behaviour change in a postCOVID-19 era. Fewer respondents (12.3%) changed into an unhealthier lifestyle. Multivariable logistic regression
analyses revealed that changing into a healthier lifestyle was positively associated with the variables ‘Worried/
Anxious getting COVID-19’ (OR: 1.56, 95% C.I. 1.26–1.93), ‘CAM use’ (OR: 2.04, 95% C.I. 1.38–3.02) and ‘stress in
relation to financial situation’ (OR: 1.89, 95% C.I. 1.30–2.74). ‘Age’ (OR 18–25: 1.00, OR 25–40: 0.55, 95% C.I. 0.31–0.96,
OR 40–55:0.50 95% C.I. 0.28–0.87 OR 55+: 0.1095% C.I. 0.10–0.33), ‘stress in relation to health’ (OR: 2.52, 95% C.I. 1.64–
3.86) and ‘stress in relation to the balance work and home’ (OR: 1.69, 95% C.I. 1.11–2.57) were found predicting the
change into an unhealthier direction.<p>
Conclusion: These findings suggest that the coronavirus crisis resulted in a healthier lifestyle in one part and, to a
lesser extent, in an unhealthier lifestyle in another part of the Dutch population. Further studies are warranted to
see whether this behavioural change is maintained over time, and how different lifestyle factors can affect the
susceptibility for and the course of COVID-19. | en_US |