Quality of life in physically active older adults during COVID-19 social isolation: longitudinal evidence from the Brazilian amazon using CASP-19

Abstract

Introduction: aging is a multidimensional process characterized by physiological and psychosocial changes influenced by genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Regular physical activity has been associated with better health, functionality, and well-being among older adults, particularly during periods of social disruption such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: to evaluate quality of life and its domains (control, autonomy, self-realization, and pleasure) among community-dwelling older adults engaged in regular physical activity using the CASP-19 scale in the Brazilian Amazon. Methods: this longitudinal observational study was conducted in Coari, Amazonas, Brazil. Data were collected before the COVID-19 pandemic (2019–2020) and after the vaccination period (2021–2022). The convenience sample included adults aged ≥60 years who engaged in regular physical activity totaling at least 150 minutes per week. Sociodemographic characteristics and CASP-19 scores were collected. Data normality was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, and comparisons between the two assessment periods were performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: at baseline, 66 older adults were evaluated; however, three participants died due to COVID-19, resulting in a final analytical sample of 63 participants with complete follow-up data. Most participants were women (76.2%; n = 48) aged 60–69 years (47.6%; n = 30). Regarding socioeconomic characteristics, 36.5% (n = 23) were illiterate, and 77.8% (n = 49) reported a monthly income between one and two minimum wages. Perceived quality of life remained favourable across the four CASP-19 domains, with most participants reporting meaning in life (78.8%; n = 52), satisfaction with daily activities (75.8%; n = 50), and pleasure in social interactions (83.3%; n = 55). Financial limitations were reported by 45.5% (n = 30) as barriers to achieving personal goals. A slight reduction in the median CASP-19 score was observed between the pre-pandemic assessment (41; IQR 39–46) and the post-vaccination assessment (40; IQR 38–44); however, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.0936). Likewise, no significant differences were observed across the four CASP-19 domains between assessment periods. Conclusion: perceived quality of life remained stable among community-dwelling older adults who were physically active before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Stability was observed in both the overall CASP-19 score and its four domains, providing longitudinal evidence from a remote municipality in the Brazilian Amazon and contributing to a better understanding of quality of life among physically active older adults living in an underrepresented setting.