Objective and Self-Reported Physical Activity and Risk of Falling Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults From Southern Brazil.

This study evaluated prospective associations between self-reported and objectively measured physical activity (PA) and risk of falls among older adults. A cohort study started in 2014 with 1,451 community-dwelling older adults living in Pelotas, Brazil. Leisure-time PA was obtained by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and 7-day raw accelerometer data evaluated for total, light PA, and moderate to vigorous PA. In 2016-2017, participants recorded their falls in the previous 12 months. Around 23% of the 1,161 participants followed-up in 2016-2017 experienced a fall in the last 12 months. Participants who did not spend any time in self-reported leisure-time PA at baseline had on average 34% higher risk of falls, and individuals in the lowest tertile for moderate to vigorous PA had on average 51% higher risk of falls compared to those in the highest tertile. Low levels of self-reported and objectively measured moderate to vigorous PA were related to higher risk of falling among Brazilian older adults.

Physical activity levels objectively measured among older adults: a population-based study in a Southern city of Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Low levels of physical activity are currently observed in all age groups around the world. Among older adults physical activity is even lower, potentially influencing quality of life, incidence of diseases and premature mortality. The aim of this study was to describe objectively measured physical activity levels among older adults residents in a Southern city of Brazil. METHODS: A population-based study was carried out including people aged 60+ years living in the urban area of Pelotas. Face-to-face interviews, anthropometric measures and triaxial accelerometry (non-dominant wrist) were used to collect sociodemographic, anthropometric and physical activity, respectively. For descriptive purposes, overall physical activity was expressed as daily averages of acceleration. Time spent in light physical activity (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) using different bout criteria (non-bouted, and in 1-, 5- and 10-min bouts) were calculated. Crude and adjusted analyses were performed using simple linear regression to examine the association between physical activity and exposure variables. RESULTS: Overall, 971 individuals provided valid accelerometry data. Women spent on average more time on LPA (136.2 vs. 127.6 min per day). Men and women respectively accumulated, in average, 64.5 and 56.7 min per day of non-bouted MVPA, while these daily averages were 14.9 and 9.46 min using 5-min, and 8.1 and 4.5 min using 10-min bout MVPA. In adjusted analyses, men aged 80 years or more spent in average 45 min less LPA per day when compared to men 60-69 years and, among women, this difference was 65 min. Considering time in 5-min MVPA bouts, the youngest age group and those with a better self-perceived health accumulated more MVPA. Specifically among men, socioeconomic status was inversely associated with 5-min bout MVPA. CONCLUSION: The present study showed low levels of physical activity among Brazilian older adults, even lower in more advanced ages, and a different pattern for physical activity intensity between men and women.

Tendência da incidência de dengue no Brasil, 2002-2012 / Tendencia de la incidencia de dengue en Brasil, 2002-2012 / Dengue incidence trend in Brazil, 2002-2012

OBJETIVO: analisar a tendência da incidência de dengue no Brasil, no período de 2002 a 2012. MÉTODOS: estudo ecológico com dados do Sistema de Informação de Agravos e Notificação (Sinan); a taxa de incidência de dengue foi calculada segundo grupos etários, unidades da federação (UF) e grandes regiões do país, utilizando-se a regressão de Prais-Winsten. RESULTADOS: as taxas de incidência de dengue no Brasil, em 2002 e 2012, foram de 401,6 e 301,5 por 100 mil habitantes, respectivamente; as taxas de incremento anual revelaram-se estáveis (21,4%; IC95% -19,8;83,7) na maioria das UF, à exceção de Alagoas (38,9%; IC95% 5,1;83,5) e Tocantins (50,4%; IC95% 12,6;100,7); a região Norte foi a única a apresentar tendência de crescimento da incidência de dengue. CONCLUSÃO: embora as taxas tenham permanecido estáveis na maioria das UF, ainda são altas no país; políticas mais amplas com foco em novas estratégias de combate à dengue mostram-se necessárias.

OBJETIVO: describir la tendencia de la incidencia de dengue en Brasil, de 2002 a 2012. MÉTODOS: estudio ecológico con datos del Sistema de Información de Enfermedades y Notificación; la tasa de incidencia del dengue se calculó según, edad, unidades de la federación (UF) y regiones; Regresión Prais-Winsten fue utilizada. RESULTADOS: las tasas de incidencia de dengue en Brasil fueron 401,6 y 301,5 por 100 mil habitantes, respectivamente; tasas de crecimiento anual se mantuvieron estables en el país (21,4% - IC95% -19,8;83,7) y la mayor parte de la UF, con la excepción de Alagoas (38,9% - IC95% 5,1;83,5) y Tocantins (50,4% - IC95% 12,6;100,7); la Región Norte fue la única a presentar tendencia al alza en la incidencia del dengue. CONCLUSIÓN: aunque las tasas se han mantenido estables la mayoría de las UF, siguen siendo altas en Brasil; políticas públicas más amplias parecen ser necesarias, centrándose principalmente en las nuevas estrategias de control del dengue.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze dengue incidence trend in Brazil from 2002 to 2012. METHODS: this was an ecological study with data of the Information System for Notifiable Diseases (Sinan); the incidence rate was calculated by age groups, states and macroregions, through Prais-Winsten regression. RESULTS: dengue incidence rates in Brazil, in 2002 and 2012, were of 401.6 and 301.5 per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively; annual increment rates were stable (21.4%; 95%CI -19.8;83.7) in most of the states, except for Alagoas (38.9%; 95%CI 5.1;83.5) and Tocantins (50.4%; 95%CI 12.6;100.7); the North Region was the only region to present increase trend in the incidence of dengue. CONCLUSION: although rates have remained stable in most of the states, they are still high in Brazil; broader public policies focusing on new dengue control strategies are necessary.

Dengue incidence trend in Brazil, 2002-2012. / Tendência da incidência de dengue no Brasil, 2002-2012.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze dengue incidence trend in Brazil from 2002 to 2012. METHODS: this was an ecological study with data of the Information System for Notifiable Diseases (Sinan); the incidence rate was calculated by age groups, states and macroregions, through Prais-Winsten regression. RESULTS: dengue incidence rates in Brazil, in 2002 and 2012, were of 401.6 and 301.5 per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively; annual increment rates were stable (21.4%; 95%CI -19.8;83.7) in most of the states, except for Alagoas (38.9%; 95%CI 5.1;83.5) and Tocantins (50.4%; 95%CI 12.6;100.7); the North Region was the only region to present increase trend in the incidence of dengue. CONCLUSION: although rates have remained stable in most of the states, they are still high in Brazil; broader public policies focusing on new dengue control strategies are necessary.

Social Support and Leisure-Time Physical Activity Among the Elderly: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity in elderly is a public health problem. The purpose of this study is to describe and test the association between social support and leisure-time physical activity among the elderly. METHODS: A cross-sectional, population-based study with 1,285 subjects (60+ years old) living in a city in southern Brazil was carried out in 2014. Physical activity practice was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire [leisure domain: at least 150 minutes per week of walking + moderate physical activity + 2(vigorous physical activity)], while social support was measured using the Physical Activity Social Support Scale. RESULTS: The prevalence of elderly who reached the recommendations of leisure-time physical activity was 18.4%. The elderly persons who had the company of family or friends to walk had a 2.45 times higher prevalence of reaching the recommendations of physical activity in leisure than those who did not. Those who had company of friends to practice moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were 3.23 times more likely to reach physical activity recommendations than their counterparts. The least common social support was the joint practice for walking and for MVPA. CONCLUSION: Strategies that incentivize family members and friends to provide social support to the elderly for physical activity focusing on joint practice must be encouraged.