The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) carried out a study on the lifestyle of COVID-19 patients aged between 18 and 60 years. According to the study, COVID-19 infected patients can get recovered early if they maintain a healthy diet in normal life, noting that it helps in improving their immune system to fight the virus.

The study saw the participation of 1,038 volunteers in a bid to understand and analyze the correlation between eating habits and lifestyle of people infected with Coronavirus and the intensity of COVID-19 symptoms in the body.

During the study, it was found that there is a crucial relationship between the diet of an individual infected with the virus and the length of their stay in the hospital for treatment of the infection. It was found that patients who followed a healthy diet and lifestyle had a lower stay duration in the hospital as compared to those who did not follow a healthy diet.

Therefore, the study reached the conclusion that following a healthy diet is very important during the Coronavirus pandemic, adding that what the individual eat and drink can directly affect their body's ability to tackle and recover from the infections.

The study was carried out in line with the efforts of DoH to combat the Coronavirus pandemic and support the country's healthcare sector through research and evidence-based studies that contribute to implementing the best possible initiatives to protect the health and safety of the members of the community.

Sumaya Al Ameri, Section Head Complaints in Healthcare Quality at DoH, explained the details of the study, adding that it has confirmed that embracing a healthy diet and lifestyle can help in boosting the immunity system of the body and enhancing its capabilities to fight and recover from diseases in general and other complexities such as COVID-19.

Al Ameri further advised people to adopt a healthy diet which should include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, high vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, bioactive phenolic compounds and low processed foods. Other lifestyle habits can also help in maintaining the health and well-being of the immunity system including getting adequate sleep, exercising regularly, and avoiding unhealthy habits such as smoking.

She noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the daily life routines of many individuals even as it is still not clear why some people are more prone to COVID-19 infection than others. During the course of the study, a structured questionnaire about demographics, lifestyle (food, exercise and smoking), and duration of stay at the hospital was utilised to understand the relationship between a healthy diet and COVID-19 infection.

"This study proved that there is a strong correlation between a healthy diet and the length of stay at the hospital," Al Ameri added.

WAM