Associação entre prática de atividade física no tempo de lazer e medicação permanente em adultos de uma região de baixo nível socioeconômico

Leandro Martin Totaro Garcia,Alex Antonio Florindo,Thiago Hérick Sá,Emanuel Péricles Salvador

doi:10.5007/1980-0037.2014v16n4p371

Leandro Martin Totaro Garcia, Alex Antonio Florindo + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.5007/1980-0037.2014v16n4p371

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Abstract

Few studies have investigated the association between leisure-time physical activity and long-term medication use in Brazilian populations, especially those of low socioeconomic status. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between the need for long-term medication and leisure-time physical activity in adults from the Ermelino Matarazzo district, a low-income region in Sao Paulo, Brazil. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2007 and involved 890 subjects aged 18 years or older. Data regarding the need for long-term medication and types of medications used were collected using a questionnaire. Leisure-time physical activity was measured using the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Descriptive analysis, chi-square test, and simple and multiple binary and multinomial logistic regression analysis were used. Among the subjects studied, 29.2% reported the need for long-term medication and 10% required at least two different types of medications. After adjustment for gender, age, education level and Body Mass Index, subjects who did not perform at least 150 min/week of leisure-time physical activity presented 2.78 (95% confidence interval - 95%CI: 1.45; 5.30) and 4.69 (95%CI: 1.90; 11.53) times the odds of requiring long-term medication and two or more types of medications rather than none, respectively, than those who did. Broader discussion of the interaction between medication, leisure-time physical activity and social and economic aspects is needed to reduce inequalities and to improve the health of individuals of low socioeconomic status.

Highlights

There is no doubt that the advances in pharmacological therapy had an important impact on the reduction in morbidity and the increase in longevity throughout the 20th century and at the beginning of the 21st century
The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between the need for long-term medication and leisure-time physical activity in adults from a low-income region
It was observed that subjects who did not perform at least 150 min/week of leisure-time physical activity presented higher odds of requiring long-term medication and two or more types of medications than none, irrespective of sociodemographic factors and Body Mass Index (BMI)

Summary

Introduction

There is no doubt that the advances in pharmacological therapy had an important impact on the reduction in morbidity and the increase in longevity throughout the 20th century and at the beginning of the 21st century. Brazil is one of the few countries where citizens are entitled to free access to different essential medicines, studies have shown that the prevalence of medication use in the country is higher than that desired across all population strata[1]. This scenario is a matter of concern especially among individuals of low socioeconomic status, since expenses with medicines account for most of their private health expenditure. Even fewer data are available for lower socioeconomic strata, which are more vulnerable to health problems and could benefit more markedly from programs encouraging physical activity[9] and promoting health[10]

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