Candido Barbosa da Silva Neto, Adriano Carvalho de Oliveira, Yandra Alves Prestes, Elisa Brosina de Leon, Hércules Lázaro Morais Campos

Abstract

Introduction: aging is a multidimensional process characterized by physiological and psychosocial changes influenced by genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Regular physical activity plays an important role in maintaining health, functionality, and well-being among older adults, particularly during periods of social isolation such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: to evaluate quality of life and its domains (control, autonomy, self-realization, and pleasure) in older adults engaged in regular physical activity, using the CASP-19 scale, in the interior of Amazonas, Brazil.

Methods: this longitudinal observational study was conducted in Coari, Amazonas, with data collected at two time points: before the pandemic (2019–2020) and after COVID-19 vaccination (2021–2022). The convenience sample included individuals aged ≥60 years, of both sexes, who engaged in regular physical activity totaling at least 150 minutes per week. Sociodemographic data and CASP-19 scores were collected. Data normality was verified using the Shapiro-Wilk test, and comparisons between the two moments (M1 and M2) were performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results: at M1, 66 older adults were evaluated, however, three participants died due to COVID-19, resulting in a final analytical sample of 63 older adults with complete data for both time points. Most participants were women (71.2%; n=47) aged 60–69 years (45.5%; n=30). Regarding socioeconomic characteristics, 31.8% (n=21) were illiterate and 75.8% (n=50) reported income below the minimum wage. Concerning quality of life domains, 78.8% (n=52) reported meaning in life, 75.8% (n=50) satisfaction with daily activities, and 83.3% (n=55) pleasure in social interactions. Financial limitations were reported by 45.5% (n=30) as barriers to achieving personal goals. When comparing the two waves, a slight reduction was observed in the median CASP-19 score between M1 (41; IQR 39–46) and M2 (40; IQR 38–44), without statistical significance (p=0.0936), indicating stability in perceived quality of life over time.

Conclusion: despite the social isolation imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, physically active older adults maintained stable quality of life scores. These findings suggest that regular physical activity may act as a protective factor for physical, psychological, and social well-being in vulnerable populations.

Keywords: Aged, Senescence, Physical Activity, Pandemics. Quality of Life.

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