Impacto de un contexto de pandemia sobre la calidad de vida de adultos jóvenes / Impact of a pandemic context on the quality of life of young adults

Introducción: La cuarentena y el aislamiento social son las medidas más recomendadas por las autoridades de salud con el objetivo de reducir la interacción social entre las personas y disminuir el riesgo de contagio por la COVID-19 en la comunidad. Sin embargo, estas restricciones y limitaciones pueden traer consecuencias en la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud de adultos jóvenes. Objetivo: Comparar la calidad de vida autorreportada entre un entorno sin pandemia vs. un contexto bajo alerta sanitaria por la COVID-19, en adultos jóvenes. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo; 157 adultos jóvenes (63 mujeres y 94 hombres), de entre 18 y 28 años, respondieron el cuestionario de salud SF-36 en 2 situaciones: contexto sin pandemia (septiembre de 2019) y contexto de pandemia (abril de 2020). El SF-36 incluye 36 preguntas agrupadas en 8 ítems: función física, rol físico, dolor corporal, salud general, vitalidad, función social, rol emocional y salud mental. Resultados: Al comparar las evaluaciones entre los contextos con y sin pandemia, se observó una disminución de la calidad de vida en las dimensiones vitalidad (p = 0,004), función social (p = 0,001), rol emocional (p = 0,001), salud mental (p = 0,003) y salud general (p = 0,001). Las dimensiones más alteradas fueron el rol emocional y la salud general, las cuales disminuyeron un 39,5 por ciento y 21,0 por ciento, respectivamente. Conclusión: La calidad de vida relacionada con la salud de adultos jóvenes se ve disminuida en un contexto de cuarentena por la COVID-19, principalmente, en las dimensiones psicológicas y sociales(AU)

Introduction: Quarantine and social isolation are the actions most recommended by health authorities with the aim of reducing social interaction between people and reducing the risk of COVID-19 infection in the community. However, these restrictions and limitations can have consequences on the health-related quality of life of young adults. Objective: To compare the self-reported quality of life between a pandemic-free environment versus a context of COVID-19 pandemic in young adults. Methods: Retrospective study; 157 young adults (63 women and 94 men) between 18 and 28 years old answered the SF-36 health questionnaire in 2 situations: context without pandemic (September 2019) and context of pandemic (April 2020). The SF-36 includes 36 questions grouped into 8 items: physical function, physical role, body pain, general health, vitality, social function, emotional role, and mental health. Results: When comparing the evaluations between the contexts with and without a pandemic, a decrease in the quality of life was observed in the vitality dimensions (p = 0,004), social function (p = 0,001), emotional role (p = 0,001), health mental (p = 0,003) and general health (p = 0,001). The most altered dimensions were emotional role and general health, which decreased by 39,5 percent and 21,0 percent, respectively. Conclusions: This study determined that the health-related quality of life of young adults is diminished in context of quarantine by COVID-19, mainly in the psychological and social dimensions(AU)

Factores asociados a una baja calidad de vida en adultos chilenos durante la cuarentena por COVID-19

Background: The quarantine and social distancing implemented during COVID 19 pandemic may hamper the quality of life of the population. Aim: To determine the factors associated with a low quality of life during COVID 19 quarantine in Chilean adults. Material and Methods: The SF-36 survey about quality of life was answered by 1,082 Chilean adults aged between 18 and 60 years, who were quarantined by the COVID-19 health alert. Other variables studied were sociodemographic background, nutritional status, lifestyles, level of physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep hours. Risk factors associated with low quality of life were identified by logistic regression analysis for each of the 8 dimensions evaluated in the SF-36 questionnaire. Results: The factors that increased the probability of having a lower general health perception were being female (Odds ratio (OR) = 1.29; p = 0.05), being physically inactive (OR = 2.76 p < 0.01), unhealthy hours of sleep (OR = 1.58, p < 0.01), smoking (OR = 1.59, p < 0.01) and eating junk food (OR = 2.26; p < 0.01). For the other dimensions of quality of life, the most frequently repeated factors were being female, junk food consumption, and being physically inactive and sedentary. Conclusions: There are factors associated with a low quality of life during the quarantine of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Chilean population. Their identification could reinforce remedial actions at the government level to benefit the health of the population during this health emergency.

Factores de riesgo asociados a bajo nivel de actividad física y exceso de peso corporal en estudiantes universitarios / Levels of physical activity and excess body weight in university students

Background: University students are considered a vulnerable group due to their adoption of unhealthy diets and lifestyles. Aim: To determine the main risk factors associated with low level of physical activity and excess body weight in university students. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 358 university students from Talca, (53% female). Sociodemographic, academic, health, lifestyle, nutritional status, physical activity and sedentary behavior variables were analyzed by logistic regression. Results: Men were more likely to present excess body weight than women (Odds ratio (OR): 2.16 [95% CI: 1.17-4.01], p = 0.01). Similarly, those with low level of physical activity (OR: 2.13 [95% CI: 1.10-414], p = 0.03), musculoskeletal injuries (OR: 2.43 [95% CI: 1.09-6.34], p = 0.05) and smokers (OR: 2.09 [95% CI: 1.05-4.14], p = 0.04) were more likely to have excess body weight. Individuals with excess body weight (OR: 2.94 [95% CI: 1.31-6.61], p < 0.01), high sedentary behaviors (OR: 2.01 [95% CI: 1.04-4.55], p = 0.04), those who spent more than 7 hours per week studying (OR: 2.11 [95% CI: 1.06-4.66], p = 0.04), and those with presence of musculoskeletal injuries (OR: 1.49 [95% CI: 1.06- 3.66], p = 0.04) were more likely to be physically inactive. In addition, men were 73% less likely to have low physical activity levels compared to women (OR: 0.27 [95% CI: 0.11-0.56], p < 0.01). Conclusions: University students have several modifiable risk factors associated with low levels of physical activity and excess weight. Healthy lifestyles promotion should modify these risk behaviors.