Regulation of Autophagy and Inflammation Through Physical Exercise in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: Protective Factor in Individuals Affected by COVID-19

Abstract

In March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) characterized the rapid and uncontrollable spread of the new Coronavirus as a pandemic, given that this disease has high severity and morbidity and mortality. The epicenter of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak was the city of Wuhan, China. Individuals with associated comorbidities, such as patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), are at increased risk of being affected by the severe form of the disease. In this sense, it is known that people with CKD have a more sedentary lifestyle, with reduced physical exercise. Thus, physical exercise is able to modulate the inflammatory process resulting from CKD, acting as a regulator of the immune system, as well as assisting in the control of renal autophagy. It appears that physical activity contributes to the improvement of the population's quality of life and acts as an effect of disease prevention. Hence, people who live with CKD in times of the pandemic of COVID-19, by adopting physical activity as a life practice, will have the consequence of strengthening the immune system by modulating inflammation and increasing the control of renal autophagy. Therefore, the practice of exercise is suggested when facing COVID-19.