Krogh-Madsen group

About us

Several studies performed at CFAS have documented that physical inactivity has detrimental effects on glucose and fat metabolism, body composition, fitness, and cognitive function while increasing the risk of comorbidities as e.g., type 2 diabetes and obesity.

The interplay between these consequences of physical inactivity and acute and chronic infectious diseases increases mortality and morbidity in these patients. Regular exercise could be a treatment to decrease mortality and morbidity including not only comorbidities as diabetes and obesity, but also quality of life.

To reduce the double burden of infectious diseases and inactivity we are working on the following 2 studies:

Acute infection and inactivity

People who are hospitalized with acute infections (e.g., pneumonia) are placed in a bed resulting in acute and prolonged physical inactivity. Most patients admitted to internal medical wards are elderly and frail citizens with comorbidities. We will exercise these patients during admission to examine the effect on physical function, quality of life, insulin sensitivity, and the risk of readmission.

Chronic infection and comorbidities

Many patients with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) infection also have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease due to an inactive lifestyle and abdominal obesity. This double burden of HBV-induced liver inflammation and lifestyle-induced fatty liver disease increases the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer. We will exercise these patients and examine the effect on fat content in the liver with the aim to prevent liver cirrhosis and cancer.