Atividade física e comportamento sedentário em adultos e idosos sobreviventes de câncer: estudo ELSI-Brasil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the level of physical activity and sedentary behavior in adult and elderly cancer survivors in Brazil, as well as to investigate their associations with sociodemographic characteristics and environmental and social factors. This is a cross-sectional study, derived from data from the first wave of the Longitudinal Study of the Health of Brazilian Elderly (ELSI-Brasil), a national population-based survey conducted from 2015 to 2016 with people aged fifty years or older. Participants were included in the study population if they had been diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. Levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior were assessed using self-reported information on time spent walking, moderate and vigorous activity, and time spent sitting during weekdays and weekends. Associated variables included sociodemographic characteristics and environmental and social factors related to neighborhood, lifetime employment, and access to public programs promoting physical activity. The analyses considered the questionnaire's sampling design and used generalized linear models with the Poisson family and logarithmic link function, with association estimates expressed as prevalence ratios. Most adult and elderly cancer survivors presented below-ideal levels of physical activity and a high amount of time spent in sedentary behavior. It was observed that both physical activity and sedentary behavior varied according to sociodemographic characteristics and environmental and social factors, significantly impacting their movement behaviors. We conclude that adult and elderly cancer survivors in Brazil present inadequate patterns of physical activity and sedentary behavior, largely influenced by sociodemographic and environmental inequalities, highlighting the need for health promotion and oncological care strategies that take into account the social and territorial context of this population.