Exposure to insufficient levels of physical exercises among older adults during physical distancing as a result of covid-19

Silva, Fabiana Medeiros de Almeida; Safons, Marisete Peralta

doi:10.1590/1981-22562022025.220086.pt

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Original Articles • Rev. bras. geriatr. gerontol. 25 (6) • 2022 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1981-22562022025.220086.en linkcopy

Exposure to insufficient levels of physical exercises among older adults during physical distancing as a result of covid-19

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Objective To determine the prevalence of exposure to insufficient levels of physical exercise among older adults during the period of physical distancing because of covid-19 and analyse associated factors in the Federal District, Brazil.

Method This is an epidemiologic survey with cross-sectional design and sample representative of a Brazilian state (n=745 older adults). Data were collected through a computer-based questionnaire. The outcome variable was practice of physical exercises during physical distancing (≥2/week and ≥30 minutes). To analyse data, associative procedures (binary logistic regression) were used.

Results The prevalence of exposure to insufficient levels of physical exercise was 42.8%, which was associated to lack of physical activity prior to physical distancing (p<0,001), lack of online physical activity lessons (p<0,001) and exposure to sedentary behaviour during physical distancing (p=0,005).

Conclusion Physical distancing has resulted in high prevalence of exposure to insufficient levels of physical exercise among older people, which can have deleterious health effects. Measures are needed to guide this population on strategies to maintain active habits during similar periods.

Keywords
Physical exercise; Aged; Physical distancing; Covid-19

Independent variable	Objective question	Category
Practice of physical exercises before PD	During physical distancing, have you practised physical exercises regularly, repetitively, and intentionally (physical exercise or sport), supervised by a professional, twice a week or more, for at least 30 minutes?	No (0) Yes (1)
Online practise of physical exercises during PD	During PD, have you practised physical exercises through online classes?	No (0) Yes (1)
Health self-perception before PD	In general, how would you rate your health?	Negative (0) = regular / poor / very poor Positive (1) = good / very good
Health self-perception during PD	When comparing your health today with that before PD, you would say that your health today is:	Negative (0) = worse Positive (1) = equal / better
Exposure to sedentary behaviour before PD	How long, in total, did you spend sitting during a normal weekday before PD?	Exposed (0) = ≥ 4 hours daily Not exposed (1) = < 4 hours daily
Exposure to sedentary behaviour during PD	During PD, what would you say about the time you spend sitting during a normal weekday in comparison to the period before distancing?	Exposed (0) = increased Not exposed (1) = stable / lower

Variables	Categories	n	%(95%CI)
Sex	Female	558	74.9 (71.8 – 78.0)
	Male	187	25.1 (22.0 – 28.2)
Age	60-69	454	60.9 (57.4 – 64.4)
	70-79	244	32.8 (29.4 – 36.2)
	≥ 80	47	6.3 (4.6 – 8.0)
Education	Did not attend school	02	0.3 (0.2 – 0.4)
	Incomplete ES	65	8.7 (6.7 – 10.7)
	Complete ES	120	16.1 (13.5 – 18.7)
	Complete HS	21	2.8 (1.6 – 4.0)
	Higher Education	537	72.1 (68.9 – 75.3)
Place of residence	High HDI	71	9.5 (7.4 – 11.6)
	Very high HDI	618	83.0 (80.3 – 85.7)
	No data	56	7.5 (5.6 – 9.4)
Type of residence	Apartment	374	50.2 (46.6 – 53.8)
	House	371	49.8 (46.2 – 53.4)
Lives alone	Yes	187	25.1 (22.0 – 28.2)
	No	558	74.9 (71.8 – 78.0)

Variable	Category	n	% (95%CI)
Physical exercise before PD	Yes	579	77.7 (74.7-80.7)
	No	166	22.3 (19.3-25.3)
Physical exercise during PD	Yes	426	57.2 (53.6-60.8)
	No	319	42.8 (39.2-46.4)
Physical exercise through online classes during PD	Yes	275	36.9 (33.4-40.4)
	No	470	63.1 (59.6-66.6)
Health self-perception	Very good	232	31.1 (27.8-34.4)
	Good	380	51.0 (47.4-54.6)
	Regular	118	15.8 (13.2-18.4)
	Poor/Very poor	15	2.0 (1.0-3.0)
Health self-perception during PD	Better	57	7.7 (6.0-9.6)
	Equal	537	72.1 (68.9-75.3)
	Worse	151	20.3 (17.4-23.2)
Sedentary behaviour before PD	< 4 hours/day	469	63.0 (59.5-66.5)
	≥ 4 hours/day	276	37.0 (33.5-40.5)
Sedentary behaviour during PD	Reduced	82	11.0 (8.8-13.2)
	Stable	245	32.9 (29.5-36.3)
	Increased	418	56.1 (52.5-59.7)

Variables/ Categories	Crude OR (95% CI)	p	Adjusted OR^b (95% CI)	p
Practice of physical exercise before PD
Yes	1	0.000	1	0.000
No	4.00 (2.76-5.79)		4.10 (2.78-6.04)
Practice of physical exercise through online classes during PD
Yes	1	0.000	1	0.000
No	5.64 (3.97-8.03)		6.22 (4.30-9.00)
Health self-perception before PD
Positive	1	0.000	1	0.000
Negative	0.36 (0.25-0.54)		0.41 (0.27-0.62)
Health self-perception during PD
Positive	1	0.000	1	0.000
Negative	0.25 (0.17-0.36)		0.25 (0.17-0.37)
Sedentary behaviour before PD^a
Not exposed	1	0.344	-	-
Exposed	0.86 (0.64-1.17)		-	-
Sedentary behaviour during PD
Not exposed	1	0.005	1	0.005
Exposed	1.64 (1.22-2.21)		1.55 (1.14-2.10)

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[qfne1] PD= Physical Distancing.