Prevalence, Patterns, and Correlates of Physical Activity Among the Adult Population in Latin America: Cross-Sectional Results from the CESCAS I Study.

ROSANA POGGIO; VILMA IRAZOLA; HE, J; ADOLFO RUBINSTEIN

Global Heart

Elsevier

Año: 2016

Background: Few data are available on population level regarding domain-specific correlates of physicalactivity (PA) in Latin America.Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the relationships among PA patterns and theirmain sociodemographic determinants and cardiovascular risk factors in the Southern Cone of LatinAmerica.Methods: CESCAS I is a population-based prospective cohort study with a 4-stage stratified sampling of ageneral population of 7,524 adults aged 35 to 74 years from 4 midsized cities in Argentina, Chile, andUruguay. PA was assessed using the transcultural adaptation of the International Physical Activity Questionnairelong form. The questionnaire asked about frequency (days per week) and duration (minutes per day)of moderate and vigorous intensity activities in 3 different domains: work, leisure time, and active transportation(walking and bicycling). PA levels of 600 metabolic equivalent tasks (MET) minutes per week wasconsidered sufficiently active. Odds ratios for associations of sufficiently active status with sociodemographicdeterminants and cardiovascular risk factors were obtained using multivariable-adjusted logistic regressionmodels.Conclusions: Almost 65%) of the participants reported 600 MET minutes per week. The lowest prevalence ofsufficiently active individuals was seen in Temuco, Chile (58.0%), among women (58.7%), older individuals(55.4%), those with higher educational level (61.6%), and homemakers (53.4%). Approximately 22.8% of thepopulation reported no PA. In multivariable analysis, PA levels were lower among women, individuals whowere older, obese, university educated, with clerical work, retired/unemployed or homemakers, and thosewith physical limitations. Future interventions to increase PA levels in the Southern Cone of Latin Americamust take into account disparities by gender and socioeconomic status. The promotion of PA during leisuretime in women?unemployed and homemakers?and of active transportation for those performing office orclerical work should be a priority in this population.