Quantifying the Impact of COVID-19 “Lockdown” on Physical Activity in Children and Adults with Implanted Cardiac Rhythm Devices: A Single Center Experience Using Cardiac Rhythm Device Accelerometer Data

Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, US states of New York and Jersey instituted a “lockdown” that closed schools most businesses except for essential services. The public was urged remain at home. 78-day lockdown period extended from 22 March 2020 6 June 2020. We sought evaluate impact on continuously recorded physical activity in our patients with congenital heart disease implanted cardiac rhythm management (CRM) devices—pacemakers (PPM), defibrillators (ICD) implantable loop recorders (ILR) enabled accelerometers translate motion into measure active hours/day. Methods: All CRM database accelerometer-enabled devices who had stable status residing NY NJ were included. Forty-one met inclusion criteria; median age 29.6 years (range 7–60); 54% female; 23 ICD, 15 PPM 3 ILR. patient averaged 2 months prior lockdown, during afterward. Paired t-tests used compare before after lockdown. Each served as his/her own control. Results: Active hours/day decreased by mean 32% (±27%) baseline (p < 0.001). A total 32 experienced decline, no change an increase. hours rebounded unchanged compared pre-lockdown levels. Conclusions: NY/NJ Spring resulted significant drop children adults disease. restrictions lifted.