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Nivel de actividad física medida a través del cuestionario internacional de actividad física en adultos mayores de las parroquias urbanas de Cuenca-Ecuador, 2015

Abstract:

Introduction: A demographic transition exists globally, in this sense in Ecuador, older adults represented 7% of the country's population in 2010, and by 2050 they will represent around 18%. Population aging causes the increase of chronic-degenerative diseases associated with the lack of exercise, so it is increasing the risk of death by 20 - 30%. Moderate and vigorous levels of physical activity, results in significant health benefits. Because of this reason and the lack of research in Cuenca, this study was developed in order to estimate the level of physical activity in older adults of our city. General objective: To determine the level of physical activity through the IPAQ (short version) in the older adults of the urban area of Cuenca. Methodology: Descriptive study with 387 older adults, they completed an International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) through a short version by an interview, once known the inclusion criteria: men and women aged ≥ 60 years who want to participate and sign the consent form. The data was processed and analyzed in the SPSS program 15 version by using the frequency of distribution and central measures of tendency (median) and dispersion measures (standard deviation). Results: 387 older adults were studied, 64,6% were 65-74 years old, the medium age were 72,77 years old with a standard deviation of 7,47 years old, the 63,6% were female, 55,8% were married, 53,4% finished the school, 70,5% were inactive economically. The 45% of the older adults had a high level of physical activity, 37% had a moderate activity and 18% had a low level of physical activity. The physical activity level varied with the age, the marital status, the educational level and the employment. Conclusion: The older adults of the urban area in Cuenca showed a high level of physical activity. That level of activity could change according to different socio-demographic characteristics