PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MORTALITY DUE TO COVID-19 IN THE BRAZILIAN CAPITALS: AN ECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

• Published in: Revista brasileira de medicina do esporte 2021-12, Vol.27 (6), p.573-577
• Main Authors: Pitanga, Francisco José Gondim, Beck, Carmem Cristina, Pitanga, Cristiano Penas Seara, Pinho, Cristiano Silva, Cortez, Antônio Carlos Leal, Guedes, Dartagnan Pinto, Matsudo, Victor Keihan Rodrigues
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: PHYSIOLOGY; SPORT SCIENCES
• ISSN: 1517-8692; 1806-9940; 1806-9940
• DOI: 10.1590/1517-8692202127062021_0071

ABSTRACT Introduction: Few studies have analyzed the association between physical activity and hospitalizations or mortality as a result of the new coronavirus, particularly in Brazil. Objective: To analyze the association between physical activity and deaths by Covid-19 in the Brazilian capitals. Method: An observational cross-sectional ecological study, in which data on the prevalence of physical activity during leisure time, and deaths by Covid-19 were analyzed for twenty-six Brazilian capitals plus the Federal District. Data were collected through the Risk Factor Surveillance System for chronic non-communicable diseases, and SUS Analytical for COVID-19 in Brazil, of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. For the data analysis, simple Pearson correlation and multiple regression were used, with a level of significance of 5%. Results: The data show the existence of an inverse correlation between physical activity during leisure time and accumulated deaths (r = −0.44, p = 0.03), mortality rate/100,000 inhabitants (r = −0.43, p = 0.02), and the lethality of the disease (r = −0.51, p = 0.01). They also show an inverse association between physical activity during leisure time and accumulated deaths (β = −485.1, p = 0.04), as well as with the lethality of the disease (β = −0.21, p = 0.02), even after adjusting for confounding variables. Conclusion: The inverse association observed between physical activity, accumulated deaths, and lethality of Covid-19 can bring important reflections on the actions that have been implemented by government agencies, at both state and municipal levels, in relation to the practice of physical activity by the population. Level of evidence III; Cross-sectional ecological study. RESUMEN Introducción: Pocos estudios han analizado la asociación entre actividad física y las hospitalizaciones o la mortalidad por el nuevo coronavirus, especialmente en Brasil. Objetivo: Analizar la asociación entre la actividad física y las muertes por COVID-19 en las capitales brasileñas. Métodos: Estudio ecológico observacional transversal, donde se analizaron datos de prevalencia de la actividad física en el tiempo libre y las muertes por COVID-19 en 26 capitales brasileñas y en el Distrito Federal. Los datos fueron recopilados a través del Sistema de Vigilancia de Factores de Riesgo de enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles y SUS Analítico para COVID-19 del Ministerio de Salud de Brasil. Para el análisis de los datos se utilizó la correlación de Pearson si