https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(12)60646-1.pdf

Global physical activity levels: surveillance progress, pitfalls, and prospects

The International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form (IPAQ-SF) has been recommended as a cost-effective method to assess physical activity. Several studies validating the IPAQ-SF have been conducted with differing results, but no systematic review of these studies has been reported. The keywords "IPAQ", "validation", and "validity" were searched in PubMed and Scopus. Studies published in English that validated the IPAQ-SF against an objective physical activity measuring device, doubly labeled water, or an objective fitness measure were included. Twenty-three validation studies were included in this review. There was a great deal of variability in the methods used across studies, but the results were largely similar. Correlations between the total physical activity level measured by the IPAQ-SF and objective standards ranged from 0.09 to 0.39; none reached the minimal acceptable standard in the literature (0.50 for objective activity measuring devices, 0.40 for fitness measures). Correlations between sections of the IPAQ-SF for vigorous activity or moderate activity level/walking and an objective standard showed even greater variability (-0.18 to 0.76), yet several reached the minimal acceptable standard. Only six studies provided comparisons between physical activity levels derived from the IPAQ-SF and those obtained from objective criterion. In most studies the IPAQ-SF overestimated physical activity level by 36 to 173 percent; one study underestimated by 28 percent. The correlation between the IPAQ-SF and objective measures of activity or fitness in the large majority of studies was lower than the acceptable standard. Furthermore, the IPAQ-SF typically overestimated physical activity as measured by objective criterion by an average of 84 percent. Hence, the evidence to support the use of the IPAQ-SF as an indicator of relative or absolute physical activity is weak.

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Validity of the international physical activity questionnaire short form (IPAQ-SF): A systematic review

Validity of the international physical activity questionnaire short form

Physical activity (PA) in older people is critically important in the prevention of disease, maintenance of independence and improvement of quality of life. Little is known about the physical activity of the older adults or their compliance with current physical activity guidelines. A systematic literature search of the published literature was conducted. Included were published reports of original research that independently reported: the PA level of non-institutional older adults (aged 60 years and over); and the proportion of older adults in the different samples who met PA recommendations or guidelines. The review was restricted to studies published since 2000 to provide a current picture of older adults’ PA levels. Fifty three papers were included in the review. The percentage of older adults meeting recommended physical activity ranged from 2.4 – 83.0% across the studies. Definitions of “recommended” physical activity in older adults varied across the studies as did approaches to measurement which posed methodological challenges to data analysis. Older age groups were less likely than the reference group to be regularly active, and women were less likely than men to achieve regular physical activity, especially leisure time physical activity, when measured by both subjective and objective criteria. The review highlights the need for studies which recruit representative random samples of community based older people and employ validated measurement methods consistently to enable comparison of PA levels over time and between countries.

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Physical activity in older people: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE To estimate worldwide prevalence of chronic low back pain according to age and sex. METHODS We consulted Medline (PubMed), LILACS and EMBASE electronic databases. The search strategy used the following descriptors and combinations: back pain, prevalence, musculoskeletal diseases, chronic musculoskeletal pain, rheumatic, low back pain, musculoskeletal disorders and chronic low back pain. We selected cross-sectional population-based or cohort studies that assessed chronic low back pain as an outcome. We also assessed the quality of the selected studies as well as the chronic low back pain prevalence according to age and sex. RESULTS The review included 28 studies. Based on our qualitative evaluation, around one third of the studies had low scores, mainly due to high non-response rates. Chronic low back pain prevalence was 4.2% in individuals aged between 24 and 39 years old and 19.6% in those aged between 20 and 59. Of nine studies with individuals aged 18 and above, six reported chronic low back pain between 3.9% and 10.2% and three, prevalence between 13.1% and 20.3%. In the Brazilian older population, chronic low back pain prevalence was 25.4%. CONCLUSIONS Chronic low back pain prevalence increases linearly from the third decade of life on, until the 60 years of age, being more prevalent in women. Methodological approaches aiming to reduce high heterogeneity in case definitions of chronic low back pain are essential to consistency and comparative analysis between studies. A standard chronic low back pain definition should include the precise description of the anatomical area, pain duration and limitation level.

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Prevalence of chronic low back pain: systematic review

O artigo descreve a situacao dos acidentes de trânsito no Brasil, desde a implementacao do Codigo de Trânsito Brasileiro de 1998 ate o ano de 2010. Foi realizada analise dos principais trabalhos cientificos e publicacoes nao academicas nacionais. A revisao de literatura incluiu periodicos indexados, nao indexados, relatorios tecnicos, busca especifica por autores, referencias bibliograficas de artigos e contato com pesquisadores. Os principais problemas do trânsito brasileiro identificados foram aumento do numero absoluto de mortos e das taxas de mortalidade, ampliacao da frota de motocicletas e o uso de alcool. Foram identificados autores influentes e ilhas de producao de conhecimento nas areas pesquisadas. Os autores apresentam algumas possiveis solucoes e sugerem que o poder publico nao tem assumido a responsabilidade que lhe cabe no controle e reducao dos acidentes de trânsito.

/pdf/acidentes-de-transito-no-brasil-de-1998-a-2010-muitas-1x3vruyei5.pdf

Acidentes de trânsito no Brasil de 1998 a 2010: muitas mudanças e poucos resultados

/pdf/accidentes-de-transito-en-brasil-de-1998-a-2010-muchos-elbogji4rw.pdf

Accidentes de tránsito en Brasil de 1998 a 2010: muchos cambios y pocos resultados

Background The aim of this study was to document changes in physical activity of Brazilian adults by comparing two surveys carried out 5 years apart. Methods Two population-based cross-sectional surveys were carried out in the city of Pelotas, Brazil, in 2002 and 2007. Their multistage sampling strategies were virtually identical. The first study included 3182 and the second 2986 adults aged 20 years or older. The short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used in both surveys, and individuals were classified as insufficiently active if reporting less than 150 min per week, according to a score combining moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity physical activity. Results Prevalence of insufficient physical activity increased from 41.1% (95% CI 37.4 to 44.9) in 2002 to 52.0% (95% CI 49.1 to 53.8) in 2007. A 70% increase in prevalence of insufficient physical activity (p=0.008) was observed among poor individuals, whereas there was no significant change in the better-off. In contrast to the direct association between insufficient physical activity and socioeconomic level found in 2002, the 2007 survey showed no association. In the 2007 multivariable analysis, insufficient physical activity was directly associated with age and inversely with schooling. Conclusion Effective interventions for the promotion of physical activity are urgently required in order to overcome the decline in physical activity levels in this population, particularly among the poor.

https://jech.bmj.com/content/jech/64/7/591.full.pdf

Changes in physical activity among Brazilian adults over a 5-year period

Cycling to work in Brazil: Users profile, risk behaviors, and traffic accident occurrence

The paper describes the situation of road traffic accidents in Brazil since 1998, when a new Brazilian traffic law was approved, up to the year 2010. A review of both academic and non-academic literature was carried out, including journals (both indexed and non-indexed), technical reports, author searches, searches in paper reference lists and direct contact with researchers. The main problems related to road traffic accidents in Brazil identified were the increase in the absolute number of deaths and in the mortality rates, a rapid increase in the number of motorcycles, and drink & driving. Influent authors in the field and centers of expertise were identified. Some potential solutions are presented by the authors, who suggest that the public offices related to traffic regulation and control are not taking suitable measures for control and reduction of road traffic accidents.

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Giancarlo Bacchieri

Papers

Acidentes de trânsito no Brasil de 1998 a 2010: muitas mudanças e poucos resultados

Accidentes de tránsito en Brasil de 1998 a 2010: muchos cambios y pocos resultados

Changes in physical activity among Brazilian adults over a 5-year period

Cycling to work in Brazil: Users profile, risk behaviors, and traffic accident occurrence

Traffic accidents in Brazil from 1998 to 2010: many changes and few effects