Efeitos da atividade física na autoavaliação de saúde de indivíduos com diabetes : uma análise temporal (2009-2019) na região Centro-Oeste do Brasil

Abstract

Self-rated health is a subjective indicator that reflects individual well-being perception and holds significant relevance in analyzing populations with chronic diseases, such as diabetes. The aim of this descriptive retrospective time-series study was to analyze the trend of health perception among diabetic individuals residing in the capitals of the Central-West region of Brazil from 2009 to 2019, considering physical activity practice and frequency. The objective was to evaluate the time series and understand how these factors influence self-rated health, using data from Vigitel. The decision to analyze data up to 2019 was due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as the virus's spread from 2020 onward resulted in significant changes in physical activity patterns and self-rated health, particularly among diabetic individuals, who are considered a high-risk group. Furthermore, the sample composition was altered. By focusing the analysis on data up to 2019, the study sought to avoid inaccurate conclusions arising from these changes. In addition to evaluating trends, the study applied the Kruskal-Wallis test to assess whether the time-series distributions were similar across different groups. The PraisWinsten regression was employed to address serial autocorrelation, a common challenge in time-series analysis, and allowed for estimating the annual percentage growth of self-rated health evaluations. Statistical results revealed that, while physical activity practice is associated with a more positive health perception, no significant trend in self-rated health evaluations was identified over time. On the other hand, through the Kruskal-Wallis test and Box Plots, significant differences in the distributions of the various self-ratings were observed. Among non-practitioners of physical activity, a higher proportion of regular self-assessments was identified. For practitioners, the comparison between the "good" and "regular" categories' distributions showed no statistically significant differences; however, the "poor" category exhibited a significantly distinct distribution from the others. These results indicate that regular physical activity is associated with more favorable health perceptions. However, the lack of a significant trend suggests that other factors, such as diabetes management and lifestyle, may influence fluctuations in self-rated health over the years. This study contributes to understanding the relationships between physical activity and self-rated health, highlighting the importance of strategies that promote healthy lifestyle habits to improve health perception in this population.