Prevalence, Patterns, and Correlates of Physical Activity Among the Adult Population in Latin America: Cross-Sectional Results from the CESCAS I Study.
BACKGROUND
Few data are available on population level regarding domain-specific correlates of physical activity (PA) in Latin America.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the relationships among PA patterns and their main sociodemographic determinants and cardiovascular risk factors in the Southern Cone of Latin America.


METHODS
CESCAS I is a population-based prospective cohort study with a 4-stage stratified sampling of a general population of 7,524 adults aged 35 to 74 years from 4 midsized cities in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. PA was assessed using the transcultural adaptation of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire long 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 was considered sufficiently active. Odds ratios for associations of sufficiently active status with sociodemographic determinants and cardiovascular risk factors were obtained using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models.


CONCLUSIONS
Almost 65%) of the participants reported ≥600 MET minutes per week. The lowest prevalence of sufficiently 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 the population reported no PA. In multivariable analysis, PA levels were lower among women, individuals who were older, obese, university educated, with clerical work, retired/unemployed or homemakers, and those with physical limitations. Future interventions to increase PA levels in the Southern Cone of Latin America must take into account disparities by gender and socioeconomic status. The promotion of PA during leisure time in women--unemployed and homemakers--and of active transportation for those performing office or clerical work should be a priority in this population.
Southern Cone American Center of Excellence for Cardiovascular Health, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: rpoggio@iecs.org.ar.
Rosana
R
Poggio
Universidad de La Frontera, CIGES, Temuco, Chile.
Pamela
P
Serón
Sanatorio San Carlos, Bariloche, Argentina.
Matías
M
Calandrelli
School of Medicine, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Jacqueline
J
Ponzo
Municipalidad de Marcos Paz, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Nora
N
Mores
Southern Cone American Center of Excellence for Cardiovascular Health, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
María G
MG
Matta
Southern Cone American Center of Excellence for Cardiovascular Health, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Laura
L
Gutierrez
Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
Chen
C
Chung-Shiuan
Universidad de La Frontera, CIGES, Temuco, Chile.
Fernando
F
Lanas
Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
Jiang
J
He
Southern Cone American Center of Excellence for Cardiovascular Health, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Vilma
V
Irazola
Southern Cone American Center of Excellence for Cardiovascular Health, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Adolfo
A
Rubinstein
Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
Lydia
L
Bazzano
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D055686:Metabolic Equivalent; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D009790:Occupations; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014583:Uruguay / Q000453:epidemiology