Biopsychosocial inequality, active lifestyle and chronic health conditions: a cross-sectional National Health Survey 2013 in Brazil.

This study estimated the biopsychosocial factors related to active physical behavior in the Brazilian population with and without chronic non-transmissible disease (NCD). Cross-sectional study of the National Health Survey (NHS) in Brazil, with 60,202 individuals in 2013. Participants were randomly selected by complex sampling. The outcome was physically active behavior measured by performing a minimum of 150 min of physical exercise per week. The independent variables were social and psychological characteristics, lifestyle and health. Cox regression was applied to estimate the prevalence ratio (PR). There are 29,666 (48.3%; 95% CI 47.0-50.0) participants reported having NCD. Not being a smoker or alcoholic, living in an urban area (PR = 1.44; CI95% 1.23-1.68/PR = 1.38; CI95% 1.08-1.75), having informal social support (PR = 1.26; CI95% 1.10-1.44/PR = 1.19; CI95% 1.05-1.34), A social class (PR = 0.43; CI95% 0.25-0.73/PR = 0.46; CI95% 0.26-0.80), high schooling (PR = 0.34; CI95% 0.23-0.51/PR = 0.33; CI95% 0.24-0.46) as well as paid work (PR = 0.87; CI95% 0.78-0.96/PR = 0.89; CI95% 0.79-0.99) are more associated with active lifestyle in both groups. However, only in the group without NCD, the male sex (PR = 1.42; CI95% 1.28-1.57), no having some disability (PR = 1.31; CI95% 1.03-1.66) and having private health insurance (PR = 1.26; CI95% 1.13-1.41) were more associated with active behavior, while in the group with NCD, being elderly (PR = 1.22; CI95% 1.05-1.42), not be white (PR = 0.85; CI95% 0.77-0.95) and not having restful sleep (PR = 1.23; CI95% 1.08-1.40) are associated with active lifestyle. People with and without NCD in Brazil have very close active behavior, however, some biopsychosocial factors such as: sex, age, lifestyle, socioeconomic level are unevenly associated with the active lifestyle in the groups. Thus, therapeutic or preventive proposals as well as public policies for health promotion must observe these distinctions when elaborating their actions.

COVID-19 in Brazilian cities: Impact of social determinants, coverage and quality of primary health care.

BACKGROUND: Brazil, as many other countries, have been heavily affected by COVID-19. This study aimed to analyze the impact of Primary health care and the family health strategy (FHS) coverage, the scores of the National Program for Improving Primary Care Access and Quality (PMAQ), and socioeconomic and social indicators in the number of COVID-19 cases in Brazilian largest cities. METHODS: This is an ecological study, carried out through the analysis of secondary data on the population of all Brazilian main cities, based on the analysis of a 26-week epidemiological epidemic week series by COVID-19. Statistical analysis was performed using Generalized Linear Models with an Autoregressive work correlation matrix. RESULTS: It was shown that greater PHC coverage and greater FHS coverage together with an above average PMAQ score are associated with slower dissemination and lower burden of COVID-19. CONCLUSION: It is evident that cities with less social inequality and restrictions of social protection combined with social development have a milder pandemic scenario. It is necessary to act quickly on these conditions for COVID-19 dissemination by timely actions with high capillarity. Expanding access to PHC and social support strategies for the vulnerable are essential.

Influence of physical activity and postural habits in schoolchildren with scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Scoliosis is considered one of the main musculoskeletal changes in childhood, and is characterized by three-dimensional changes in the spine. Schoolchildren is a group who are directly exposed to this condition because they go through a rapid growth phase in adolescence, added to other external factors such as school environment and daily living habits such as little physical activity. This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with scoliosis in schoolchildren. METHODS: An observational, retrospective case control study with a quantitative approach was carried out in the city of Santa Cruz/RN. The presence of scoliosis was assessed using the Adams test and physical activity by the Daily Physical Activity Index (IPAQ) and by a questionnaire on competitive sports practice, in addition to a questionnaire on postural habits in childhood and adolescence. Conditional multiple logistic regression was performed for statistical analysis, and the adjusted Odds Ratios (OR) and the respective confidence intervals (95%) of the outcome variable were estimated. RESULTS: A total of 156 schoolchildren participated in the study, with an average age of 13.9 years, with 55.1% being female and 44.9% male, attending between the 6th grade of elementary school and the 3rd year of high school. Furthermore, 42.9% of these participants were considered irregularly active and only 33.3% practiced physical activity on a regular basis. After bivariate analysis and conditional logistic regression, little physical activity was shown to be a risk factor for scoliosis (p = 0.041; OR: 2.81; 95% CI: 1.04-7.57), while the postural habits evaluated in this study did not show a statistical association with scoliosis. CONCLUSION: Low practice of physical activity and schoolchildren being classified as irregularly active were considered as risk factors for scoliosis, however postural habits do not seem to be associated with this condition.

Klapp method effect on idiopathic scoliosis in adolescents: blind randomized controlled clinical trial.

[Purpose] To estimate the effect of Klapp method on idiopathic scoliosis in school students. [Subjects and Methods] A single-blind randomized clinical trial with 22 students randomly divided into intervention group (n=12) and inactive control group (n=10). Exercise protocol consisted of Klapp method, 20 sessions, three times a week for intervention group, and inactivity for control group. Dorsal muscle strength was measured by dynamometer; body asymmetries and gibbosity angles were measured by biophotogrammetry. Data were obtained by Generalized Estimated Equation, with 5% significance level. Clinical impact for dependent variables was estimated by "d" Cohen. [Results] There was no change in intragroup analysis and intergroup for all postural symmetry variables. However, it was detected intergroup difference in extensor muscle strength and intergroup difference with marginal significance of gibbosity angles. Regarding extensor muscle strength, intervention group produced average improvement of 7.0 kgf compared to control group. Gibbosity angles progressed less in intervention group, with 5.71° average delay compared to control group. [Conclusion] Klapp method was effective for gibbosity stabilization and it improves spine extensor muscle strength.

Factors associated with scoliosis in schoolchildren: a cross-sectional population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of scoliosis and to analyze the factors associated with scoliosis in schoolchildren aged between 7 and 17 years. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional and quantitative study with stratified random selection of public school students in the city of Santa Cruz, Brazil. The presence of scoliosis was examined, as well as the flexibility of the posterior muscle chain, socioeconomic characteristics, anthropometry, lifestyle habits, sexual maturation, and ergonomics of school furniture. In order to identify factors associated with scoliosis, the variables were divided in biological, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and ergonomic factors, and crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) were estimated by means of Poisson regression analysis. RESULTS: Two hundred and twelve pupils participated in this study (mean age 11.61 years, 58% female). The prevalence of scoliosis was 58.1% (n = 123) and associated with female sex (PR 2.54; 95% CI, 1.33-4.86) and age between 13 and 15 years (PR 5.35; 95% CI, 2.17-13.21). Sleeping in a hammock was inversely associated with scoliosis (PR 0.44; 95% CI, 0.23-0.81). CONCLUSIONS: Scoliosis seems to be positively associated with female sex and age between 13 and 15 years, whereas the habit of sleeping in a hammock is negatively associated with the onset of scoliosis.