Relationships between physical activity, quality of life, and age in women attending social groups for the elderly

• Autor(a) principal: de Souza, Fabricio
• Data de Publicação: 2018
• Outros Autores: Souza, Márcia, Schuelter-Trevisol, Fabiana, Trevisol, Daisson
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Scientia Medica (Porto Alegre. Online)
• Texto Completo: https://revistaseletronicas.pucrs.br/scientiamedica/article/view/30301
• topic: health of the elderly; aging; HRQOL; comorbidity; exercise.; saúde do idoso; envelhecimento; QVRS; comorbidade; exercício.

AIMS: To analyze factors associated with physical activity levels among older women attending social groups for the elderly.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with elderly women enrolled in the Municipal Social Development Foundation in the city of Tubarão, in south Brazil. Sociodemographic and health status variables were evaluated through questionnaires administered during interviews, and by anthropometric evaluation. The level of physical activity was assessed using the Modified Baecke Questionnaire for the Elderly. Quality of life was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment for older adults.RESULTS: Out of 306 elderly women included in the study, 214 (69.9%) were defined as physically inactive and 92 (30.1%) were active. The proportion of physically active participants between 60-69 years of age was 52.2%, between 70-79 years was 40.2% and equal or more than 80 years was 7.6% (p = 0.011). No other sociodemographic or anthropometric characteristics were associated with physical activity. In the non-adjusted analysis there was association between physical activity and better quality of life, as well as with fewer diseases. There was a weak negative correlation between physical activity and number of diseases (correlation coefficient = 0.215) and a weak positive correlation between physical activity and quality of life scores (correlation coefficient = 0.284). In the adjusted analysis, physical activity remained as a protection factor for loss of quality of life: prevalence ratio = 0.88 (95% confidence interval = 0.81-0.96), p = 0.003.CONCLUSIONS: The study concluded that physical activity in elderly women was associated with better quality of life, even when adjusted for age.