Impacto da COVID-19 na funcionalidade e nível de atividade física em idosos residentes em uma cidade do Sudoeste da Bahia, Brasil

Abstract

Although the entire population is susceptible to COVID-19, the elderly are more vulnerable, especially when considering the morbidity and mortality ratio, since this age group is at greater risk of developing severe forms of COVID-19, with the possibility of progression to death, especially if they have chronic diseases. The objective of this work was to investigate the functionality and level of physical activity in elderly people before and after infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in a group of physically active elderly people before the pandemic in Vitória da Conquista - Bahia. The research was carried out with a group of 51 elderly people who practiced regular physical activity at least three times a week, those who tested positive for COVID-19 by antigen test or RT-PCR were considered for research. A questionnaire with sociodemographic questions was applied, with the Lawton and Brody scale to assess functionality and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) - Short Version to investigate the level of physical activity. For data analysis, SPSS software version 25.0 and R version 4.3.1 were used. After COVID-19 infection, there was a decrease in functionality and level of physical activity among the elderly studied, there was a decrease of 66.67% among those who were independent and an increase of 60% among those who were moderately dependent. There was no statistical significance when relating sociodemographic variables with the reduction in the Lawton and Brody scale or with the reduction in the IPAQ classification. However, there was evidence of a decrease in functionality and in the level of physical activity before and after the infection.