Dear Colleagues,

 

The ongoing and seemingly endless COVID-19 pandemic is not only a global health crisis, but it has also highlighted a number of pre-existing health problems, including access to health care, greater severity of COVID-related complications for those with cardiometabolic diseases, and the added complexities underserved populations face with seeking and gaining access to essential healthcare services. Additionally, the pandemic has impacted lifestyle behaviors for many, including high amounts sedentary behavior, low amounts physical activity, poor sleep, and high levels of psychological stress. Ironically, these lifestyle behaviors could be characterized as pandemics even before the advent of COVID-19. Of particular concern, these lifestyle behaviors increase the risk of cardiometabolic diseases and may contribute to a greater likelihood of an individual experiencing health complications following COVID-19. 

Whilst the progression of treatments and vaccines will prevent sustained mortality and reduce transmission rates, the legacy of COVID-19 will have a lasting impact upon global health There are many questions that require addressing, including but not limited to the following:
· What are the long-term cardiometabolic health complications for those who contracted COVID-19? 
· What are the long-term implications for mental health, and what impact will long-term poor mental health have on cardiometabolic diseases? 
· Will the lifestyle behaviors adopted during COVID-19 continue following the resumption of “normal” life? 
· Following COVID-19, will the health gap for underserved populations be heightened? 
· What adaptations will various healthcare employees and providers (e.g., occupational therapists, primary care physicians etc.) need to make in order to accommodate the needs of patients? 
· What impacts will poor physical and mental health have on national and global economies?
· What kind of data are we collecting to help solve these potential problems? 
· Where should we be focusing public health policy? 

On behalf of HL-PIVOT (Healthy Living for Pandemic Event Protection) and Exercise is Medicine? (EIM) Underserved & Community Health, this special issue aims to expand the discourse related to the long-term impact of COVID-19 on individual and public health. We welcome any of article types accepted by RCM, including original research, case reports, reviews, and short communications.

 

Dr.  Lee Stoner, Dr. Mark Faghy and Dr. Ryan Conners

Guest Editors