Gabriela M Oliveira1, Alexandre D Lopes2, Luiz Hespanhol3. 1. Masters and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo (UNICID), Brazil. Electronic address: gmartins9569@gmail.com. 2. Department of Physical Therapy and Kinesiology, Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, USA. 3. Masters and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo (UNICID), Brazil; Department of Public and Occupational Health (DPOH), Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute (APH), Amsterdam Universities Medical Centers, Location VU University Medical Center Amsterdam (VUmc), The Netherlands; Amsterdam Collaboration on Health and Safety in Sports (ACHSS), Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam Universities Medical Centers, Location VU University Medical Center Amsterdam (VUmc), The Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the proportion of individuals who practice running, its temporal trend, and to describe the runners' characteristics. DESIGN: Population-based repeated cross-sectional study. METHODS: The data from the Protective and Risk Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (Vigitel) from Brazil were used. Telephone interviews were conducted with adults from the Brazilian capitals (27 cities) between 2006-2017. The interviewer read the questions and recorded the participants' responses immediately in a questionnaire. Data analyses were conducted using a Bayesian approach. RESULTS: The Vigitel database consisted of 625,460 Brazilian participants composed of 295,681 exercisers and within them 15,529 runners. The mean yearly proportion of runners was about 2.45% (95% Bayesian credible interval [CrI] 1.93 to 3.11) and 5.32% (95%CrI 4.29 to 6.54) in the entire study population and within exercisers, respectively. The absolute increase in the proportion of runners per year over the 12-year period was 0.13% and 0.17% in the entire study population and within exercisers, respectively. Runners were more likely to be younger, men, within normal body mass index, highly educated, moderate alcohol drinkers, non-smokers, less exposed to TV, living near physical activity/sports facilities and less exposed to health conditions such as arterial hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia. CONCLUSION: There was a 95% probability that the yearly proportion of runners lies between 1.93% and 3.11% in the population of the 27 Brazilian capitals, and between 4.29% and 6.54% within exercisers. There has been an increase in the proportion of runners over time. Runners were associated with healthier characteristics compared to non-runners and non-exercisers.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the proportion of individuals who practice running, its temporal trend, and to describe the runners' characteristics. DESIGN: Population-based repeated cross-sectional study. METHODS: The data from the Protective and Risk Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (Vigitel) from Brazil were used. Telephone interviews were conducted with adults from the Brazilian capitals (27 cities) between 2006-2017. The interviewer read the questions and recorded the participants' responses immediately in a questionnaire. Data analyses were conducted using a Bayesian approach. RESULTS: The Vigitel database consisted of 625,460 Brazilian participants composed of 295,681 exercisers and within them 15,529 runners. The mean yearly proportion of runners was about 2.45% (95% Bayesian credible interval [CrI] 1.93 to 3.11) and 5.32% (95%CrI 4.29 to 6.54) in the entire study population and within exercisers, respectively. The absolute increase in the proportion of runners per year over the 12-year period was 0.13% and 0.17% in the entire study population and within exercisers, respectively. Runners were more likely to be younger, men, within normal body mass index, highly educated, moderate alcohol drinkers, non-smokers, less exposed to TV, living near physical activity/sports facilities and less exposed to health conditions such as arterial hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia. CONCLUSION: There was a 95% probability that the yearly proportion of runners lies between 1.93% and 3.11% in the population of the 27 Brazilian capitals, and between 4.29% and 6.54% within exercisers. There has been an increase in the proportion of runners over time. Runners were associated with healthier characteristics compared to non-runners and non-exercisers.