[Physical activity and mental health status among elderly people].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between physical activity level and mental health status among elderly people.


METHODS
This was a population-based survey with a probabilistic sample of 875 elderly people from a city of Southern Brazil, in 2002. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Brazil Old Age Schedule questionnaire were applied. The mental health problems evaluated were depressions and dementia. Total physical activity (leisure-time, occupation, transportation and housework). After descriptive and bivariate analyses, adjusted analyses were performed by means of logistic regression, with adjustment for the factors of total physical activity, leisure-time activity and depression and dementia scores.


RESULTS
There were statistically significant inverse associations between dementia and depression with total physical activity and leisure-time physical activity. The odds ratio for total physical activity adjusted for dementia among sedentary subjects in comparison with active subjects was 2.74 (95% CI: 1.85; 4.08), while the respective value adjusted for depression was 2.38 (95% CI: 1.70; 3.33).


CONCLUSIONS
The results reinforce the importance of active lifestyles for preventing mental health problems among elderly people. It is inferred that the physical activity was able to reduce and/or delay the risks of dementia, although it cannot be stated that dementia is avoided through physical activity.
Benedetti
Tânia R Bertoldo
TR
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Física, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. benedetti@cds.ufsc.br
Borges
Lucélia Justino
LJ
Petroski
Edio Luiz
EL
Gonçalves
Lúcia Hisako Takase
LH
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires