The secret to fighting COVID-19 is behaviour change

It’s been a year since the first COVID-19 infection in South Africa and I get hopeful when I see how impactful healthy behaviour is in the fight against the disease.

I’ve always known that Vitality is a game changer: it is a scientifically grounded behaviour-change programme that is at the apex of technology with the aim of creating good health. But I did not anticipate just how important this would be in the face of a hopefully once-in-a-lifetime pandemic.

Vitality engagement reduces COVID-19 mortality risk

Vitality is built on the insight that the nature of risk is behavioural. So, by enabling behaviour change, we can reduce the risks our members are exposed to. This is especially relevant in a pandemic.

Our most engaged members (Diamond Vitality status members) are more likely to exercise often and eat healthier foods, with resultant better health screening outcomes. Discovery Life data shows that these members have an 81% lower risk of death from COVID than those who are not engaged in the programme. This holds true even for older members and those with co-morbidities.

The pandemic exposed us all to health risks. It tested our mental wellbeing, our physical health and even our nutritional health. But it also showed how, in addition to wearing a mask, the principles that make up Vitality are our best non-pharmaceutical weapon against an infectious disease like COVID-19. The simple approach of embracing good nutrition, increased physical activity, clinical screening and prioritising our mental wellbeing can have profound effects.

Vitality’s impact continued across both COVID-19 waves and variants that South Africa has experienced. What a powerful tool in the fight against what was an unknown enemy just a year ago!

Health trends show more good news

Taking our extensive Discovery Health data into account and adjusting it for risk, the same impact of healthy behaviour was found in mitigating the effects of COVID-19. The macro-level effect of Vitality on COVID-19 mortality suggests that the impact of the virus on the Vitality population has been substantially reduced.

The data shows that of the 81 000 Vitality members who contracted COVID-19, engaged Vitality members of all ages experienced lower case fatality rates than the SA population. This means that COVID-19 deaths on Vitality have been 38% lower than the general South African experience, translating to an astounding 844 fewer lives lost on the Vitality programme through improved COVID-19 mortality outcomes. As a leader, I am immensely proud of this figure, the dedicated members and Vitality as a programme for helping to facilitate this good behaviour.

The effect of healthy living has not only been shown to reduce COVID-19 mortality (death), but morbidity (severity of illness) as well, with Vitality members showing a higher resilience to severe manifestations of COVID-19 infection. Across the world, healthcare systems have been strained trying to manage the many waves of the pandemic.

We can improve on this. The graph illustrates the number of Discovery Health members who needed hospital care over the course of the pandemic. If all three million members on Discovery-administered medical schemes were engaged in Vitality, it is estimated that 33% fewer members would need hospital care and result in approximately 96 000 fewer bed days and 42 000 fewer ICU days, reducing healthcare system costs by R1.1 billion just within this cohort.

Taking small steps every day

In 2021, Vitality is a relevant and impactful adaptation of everything we knew in February 2020. In fact, early in March 2020, the tangible outdoor and group activities that made up the programme were quickly adapted to an online manifestation of the programme our members knew. The aim was to support members from the first day of lockdown through the Vitality at Home programme.

We made it possible for all South Africans to get active with free home workouts, to eat healthily with a home-cooking channel and to manage their mental wellbeing with tools on our mental wellbeing channel.

For members, we made devices more accessible, screening and assessments went online, we doubled HealthyLiving rewards, and launched bespoke programmes for kids, teens and those older than 65, all when it was needed most.

We know it is easier said than done, but focusing on small and manageable goals contribute enormously towards good health. Making daily short-term choices towards healthier living not only improves our quality of life as we get older and bolsters our resilience against infectious and communicable diseases, but also lessens the strain on healthcare systems, which ultimately benefits society.

Our aim is to not only protect our members, but to protect South Africa as a whole through innovation and improved health during this pandemic.

As we approach the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, I wish you and your families safety and good health.