This report describes the outcomes of an epidemiological study that examined the association among physical activity participation, household income, and the prevalence of chronic diseases among 875 older persons living in southern Brazil. At least one disease or chronic condition was reported by 71.1% of the older adults. The survey identified 59.3% of the older adults as more active. Physical activity levels were found to be independent predictors of disease status. Less active seniors were more than twice as likely to report the presence of disease than were their more active counterparts. In addition, socioeconomic status was found to be significantly related to physical activity participation, with lower income seniors less likely to be physically active. These findings underscore the value of physical activity interventions for preserving health and independence among older Brazilians. Special efforts should be made to design physical activity interventions that target low-income seniors.
Atienza, A.A. (2001). Home-based physical activity programs for middle-aged and older adults: Summary of empirical research. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 9(Suppl.), 38-58.
2.
Benedetti, T.R.B., Antunes, P.C., Rodrigues-Anez, C.R., Mazo, G.Z., & Petroski, E.L. (2007). Reprodutibilidade e validade do questionário Internacional de Atividades Físicas IPAQ entre homens idosos [Reproducibility and validity of the International Physical Activity Questionairre (IPAQ) in elderly men]. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte, 13(1), 11-16.
3.
Benedetti, T.B., Petroski, E.L. & Gonçalves, L.T. (2004). Perfil dos idosos do município de Florianópolis [Profile of old persons in the municipality of Florianópolis]. Florianópolis, Brazil: Palotti.
4.
Brazilian Ministry of Health. (2006). Classificação Estatística Internacional de Doenças e Problemas Relacionados à Saúde [International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems]. Retrieved February 10, 2008, from http://www.datasus.gov.br/cid10/webhelp/cid10.htm
5.
Cappucio, F.P. (2004). Commentary: Epidemiological transition, migration, and cardiovascular disease. International Journal of Epidemiology , 33(2), 387-388.
6.
Chodzko-Zajko, W.J. (2001). National blueprint: Increasing physical activity among adults age 50 and older. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 9(Suppl.), 1-28.
7.
Dergance, J.M., Calmbach, W.L., Dhanda, R., Miles, T.P., Hazuda, H.P., & Mouton, C.P. (2003). Barriers to and benefits of leisure time physical activity in the elderly: Differences across cultures. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 51, 863-868.
8.
Eakin, E. (2001). Promoting physical activity among middle-aged and older adults in health care settings. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 9(Suppl.), 29-37.
9.
Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. (1998). Pesquisa sobre o Padrão de Vida : Pesquisa nacional por amostra de domicilio PNDA [Survey of Life Standards : National Household Sample Survey]. Retrieved February 10, 2008, from http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/populacao/trabalhoerendimento/pnad98/saude/comentarios.shtm
10.
Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. (2003). Síntese dos indicadores sociais-Pesquisa nacional por amostra de domicilio [National Household Sample Survey PNAD-Summary of social indicators].Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Estudo & Pesquisa.
11.
Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. (2004). Diretoria de pesquisa: Coordenação de população e indicadores sociais. Gerência de estudo e análise dinâmica demográfica. Projeção da população do Brasil por sexo e idade para o período de 1980-2050 [Systems of population prospects and estimates (do site). Estimates of the Brazilian population from 1980-2050 by sex and age]. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Author.
12.
King, G.A., Fitzhugh, E.C., Bassett, D.R., McLaughlin, J.E., Strath, S.J., Swartz, A.M., & Thompson, D.L. (2001). Relationship of leisure-time physical activity and occupational activity to the prevalence of obesity. International Journal of Obesity, 25, 606-612.
13.
Linnan, L.A., & Marcus, B. (2001). Worksite-based physical activity programs and older adults: Current status and priorities for the future. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 9(Suppl.), 59-70.
14.
Marshal, A., & Bauman, A. (2001). The International Physical Activity Questionnaire: Summary report of the reliability and validity studies (draft IPAQ, summary) . IPAQ Executive Committee.
15.
Mathias, T.A.F. & Jorge, M.H.P.M. (2004). Diabetes mellitus na população idosa em município da Região Sul do Brasil: Um estudo da mortalidade e morbidade hospitalar [Diabetes mellitus in the elderly population in an urban area of southern Brazil: A mortality and hospital morbidity study]. Arquivos Brasileiros de Endocrinologia & Metabologia, 48, 505-512.
16.
Moura, E.C., Morais Neto, O.L., Malta, D.C., Moura, L., Silva, N.N., Bernal, R., et al. (2008). Surveillance of risk factors for chronic diseases through telephone interviews in 27 Brazilian cities ( 2006). Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia, 11(Suppl. 1), 20-37.
17.
Mouton, C.P., Calmbach, W.L., Dhanda, R., Espino, D.V., & Hazuda, H. (2000). Barriers and benefits to leisure-time physical activity among older Mexican Americans. Archives of Family Medicine, 9, 892-897.
18.
Stewart, A.L. (2001). Community-based physical activity programs for adults age 50 and older. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity , 9(Suppl.), 71-91.
19.
U.S. Census Bureau (2001). Age data of the United States. Retrieved February 10, 2008, from http://www.census.gov/population/www./socdemo/age.html
20.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. ( 1996). Physical activity and health: A report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion.
21.
Veras, R.P., & Dutra, S. (2001). Questionário BOAS (Brazil Old Age Schedule). Retrieved February 10, 2008, from http://www.unati.uerj.br
22.
Veras, R.P., Dutra, S., Souza, C.A.M., Miolli, R., & Ventura, F. (1989). Proposta metodológica para inquérito domiciliar com populações idosas em um centro urbano do estado do Rio de Janeiro (Brasil) [A domiciliary enquiry on the elderly population in a large urban center of Rio de Janiero, Brazil : A methodological proposal]. Revista de Saúde Pública, 23, 429-438.
23.
World Health Organization. (2002, April). Active ageing: A policy framework Contribution of the World Health Organization to the Second United Nations World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, Spain.
24.
World Health Organization. (2004). International classification of diseases and health-related problems (2nd ed., Version 10). Geneva: Author.
25.
Wray, A.L., Alwin, D.F., & McCammon, R.J. (2005). Social status and risky health behaviors: Results from the health and retirement study. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 60B, S85-S92.
