Abstract

Being active has been shown to have beneficial effects for the health of individuals with chronic diseases. However, data on the association between multimorbidity and physical activity are limited. To investigate the association between chronic diseases, multimorbidity and insufficient physical activity among older adults in southern Brazil, according to sex. Cross-sectional population-based and household-based study derived from the second wave (2013-2014) of the EpiFloripa Aging Cohort Study. Insufficiency of physical activity (outcome) was ascertained using the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (≤ 150 minutes/week). Eleven self-reported chronic diseases were identified. Multimorbidity was defined from the number of chronic diseases (none; 2 or 3; or 4 or more). The adjustment variables were age, schooling, marital status, income, smoking, alcohol consumption and cognition. Additionally, each chronic disease was adjusted for the others. Associations were tested using logistic regression (crude and adjusted). Among the 1197 participants (≥ 63 years), women (54.0%) were more likely than men (39.6%) to be insufficiently active. In the adjusted analysis, women and men with depressive symptoms, and men with diabetes, were more likely to be insufficiently active than those without symptoms. Multimorbid women were more likely to be insufficiently active, and the magnitude of the effect was strongest for 4 or more diseases. This study indicates that the associations were sex-specific. Depressive symptoms and multimorbidity were associated with insufficient physical activity among women, while diabetes was associated with insufficient physical activity among men.

Highlights

  • Population aging is a worldwide phenomenon that has led to increased prevalence of noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCDs)

  • This study investigated the association between chronic diseases, multimorbidity and insufficient level of physical activity among older adults in a city in southern Brazil

  • The results showed that depressive symptoms and multimorbidity (2-3 and ≥ 4 diseases) were positively associated with insufficient physical activity only for women

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Population aging is a worldwide phenomenon that has led to increased prevalence of noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCDs). Multimorbidity has a higher cost, with greater utilization of healthcare services than would be expected from the individual effects of chronic diseases.[5] In Brazil, data from the 2013 National Health Survey showed that the prevalence of multimorbidity among men and women aged 60 or over was 43.4% and 57.1%, respectively.[6]. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between chronic diseases, multimorbidity and insufficient physical activity among older adults in southern Brazil, according to sex. Women and men with depressive symptoms, and men with diabetes, were more likely to be insufficiently active than those without symptoms. Multimorbid women were more likely to be insufficiently active, and the magnitude of the effect was strongest for 4 or more diseases. Depressive symptoms and multimorbidity were associated with insufficient physical activity among women, while diabetes was associated with insufficient physical activity among men

Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call