Effect of physical inactivity on major noncommunicable diseases and life expectancy in Brazil.
BACKGROUND
In Brazil, one-fifth of the population reports not doing any physical activity. This study aimed to assess the impact of physical inactivity on major noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), all-cause mortality and life expectancy in Brazil, by region and sociodemographic profile.


METHODS
We estimated the population attributable fraction (PAF) for physical inactivity associated with coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, colon cancer, and all-cause mortality. To calculate the PAF, we used the physical inactivity prevalence from the 2008 Brazilian Household Survey and relative risk data in the literature.


RESULTS
In Brazil, physical inactivity is attributable to 3% to 5% of all major NCDs and 5.31% of all-cause mortality, ranging from 5.82% in the southeastern region to 2.83% in the southern region. Eliminating physical inactivity would increase the life expectancy by an average of 0.31 years. This reduction would affect mainly individuals with ≥ 15 years of schooling, male, Asian, elderly, residing in an urban area and earning ≥ 2 times the national minimum wage.


CONCLUSIONS
In Brazil, physical inactivity has a major impact on NCDs and mortality, principally in the southeastern and central-west regions. Public policies and interventions promoting physical activity will significantly improve the health of the population.
Dept of Preventive Medicine, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
Leandro Fornias Machado
LF
de Rezende
Fabiana Maluf
FM
Rabacow
Juliana Yukari Kodaira
JY
Viscondi
Olinda do Carmo
Odo C
Luiz
Victor Keihan Rodrigues
VK
Matsudo
I-Min
IM
Lee
D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D057185:Sedentary Behavior