Sedentary behavior, abdominal obesity and healthcare costs in Brazilian adults with cardiovascular diseases: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Research on the economic burden of sedentary behavior and abdominal obesity on health expenses associated with cardiovascular diseases is scarce. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to verify whether sedentary behavior, isolated and combined with abdominal obesity, influences the medication expenditure among adults with cardiovascular diseases. DESIGN AND SETTING: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the city of President Prudente, State of São Paulo, Brazil in 2018. METHODS: The study included adults with cardiovascular diseases, aged 30-65 years, who were treated by the Brazilian National Health Services. Sedentary behavior was assessed using a questionnaire. Abdominal obesity was defined by waist circumference. Medication expenditures were verified using the medical records of each patient. RESULTS: The study included a total of 307 adults. Individuals classified in the group with risk factor obesity combined (median [IQ] USD$ 29.39 [45.77]) or isolated (median [IQ] USD$ 27.17 [59.76]) to sedentary behavior had higher medication expenditures than those belonging to the non-obese with low sedentary behavior group (median [IQ] USD$ 13.51 [31.42]) (P = 0.01). The group with combined obesity and sedentary behavior was 2.4 (95%CI = 1.00; 5.79) times more likely to be hypertensive. CONCLUSION: Abdominal obesity was a determining factor for medication expenses, regardless of sedentary behavior, among adults with cardiovascular diseases.

Sedentary behavior, abdominal obesity and healthcare costs in Brazilian adults with cardiovascular diseases: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Research on the economic burden of sedentary behavior and abdominal obesity on health expenses associated with cardiovascular diseases is scarce. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to verify whether sedentary behavior, isolated and combined with abdominal obesity, influences the medication expenditure among adults with cardiovascular diseases. DESIGN AND SETTING: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the city of President Prudente, State of São Paulo, Brazil in 2018. METHODS: The study included adults with cardiovascular diseases, aged 30-65 years, who were treated by the Brazilian National Health Services. Sedentary behavior was assessed using a questionnaire. Abdominal obesity was defined by waist circumference. Medication expenditures were verified using the medical records of each patient. RESULTS: The study included a total of 307 adults. Individuals classified in the group with risk factor obesity combined (median [IQ] USD$ 29.39 [45.77]) or isolated (median [IQ] USD$ 27.17 [59.76]) to sedentary behavior had higher medication expenditures than those belonging to the non-obese with low sedentary behavior group (median [IQ] USD$ 13.51 [31.42]) (P = 0.01). The group with combined obesity and sedentary behavior was 2.4 (95%CI = 1.00; 5.79) times more likely to be hypertensive. CONCLUSION: Abdominal obesity was a determining factor for medication expenses, regardless of sedentary behavior, among adults with cardiovascular diseases.

Qualidade de vida e comportamentos durante a pandemia da COVID-19: Um estudo transversal / Quality of life and behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

Pesquisa transversal com objetivo de analisar a associação entre qualidade de vida e comportamentos desenvolvidos por indivíduos hipertensos durante o período de isolamento social, devido à pandemia da COVID-19. O estudo foi realizado através de ligações telefônicas e avaliou adultos cadastrados na atenção primária de saúde. A prática de atividade física foi avaliada pelo Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física, sendo somadas a duração e a frequência das atividades e o tempo total sentado durante a semana e fim de semana. A qualidade de vida foi analisada através do Sistema Descritivo ­ EQ-5D, considerando o score utilidade e o estado geral de saúde. Presença de doenças e comportamentos durante o isolamento social, assim como aspecto emocional e ambiente para realização de atividades físicas foram analisados. Foram utilizados os testes t de Studant e ANOVA one way para comparação de grupos e ANCOVA para comparações entre os grupos ajustadas. A significância estatística foi pré-fixada em valores inferiores a 5%. Foram entrevistados 659 hipertensos, com idade entre 41 e 93 anos. Observou-se maior qualidade de vida naqueles que praticaram exercício físico (p = 0,015), que não relataram ter a saúde emocional afetada pela pandemia (p = 0,001) e que responderam ter ambiente favorável em casa para prática de atividade física, (p = 0,001). Em conclusão, a qualidade de vida associou-se aos comportamentos positivos dos participantes durante a pandemia, como a prática de atividade física, contudo é necessário que os órgãos públicos se atentem aos baixos níveis de atividade física da população provocados pela pandemia

Cross-sectional research with the objective of analyzing the association between quality of life and behaviors developed by hypertensive individuals during the period of social isolation, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was carried out through telephone calls and evaluated adults registered in primary health care. The practice of physical activity was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, adding the duration and frequency of activities and the total time sitting during the week and weekend. Quality of life was analyzed using the Descriptive System ­ EQ-5D, considering the utility score and general health status. Presence of diseases and behaviors during social isolation, as well as the emotional aspect and environment for carrying out physical activities were analyzed. Student's t-test and one-way ANOVA were used for group comparisons and ANCOVA for adjusted between-group comparisons. Statistical significance was pre-set at values below 5%. 659 hypertensive adults aged between 41 and 93 years were interviewed. A better quality of life was observed in hypertensive individuals who practiced physical exercise (p = 0.015), who did not report having their emotional health affected by the pandemic (p = 0.001) and who responded that they had a favorable environment at home for the practice of physical activity, (p = 0.001). In conclusion, QoL was associated with the positive behaviors of the participants during the pandemic, such as the practice of physical activity, however, it is necessary for public agencies to pay attention to the low levels of PA in the population caused by the pandemic