Associação entre nível de atividade física captada por smartwatch e a função pulmonar de pessoas idosas comunitárias

Abstract

Aging leads to a decline in lung function and functional capacity, resulting from structural and functional changes in the respiratory system. Spirometry remains the gold standard for detecting ventilatory impairments, while regular physical activity is recognized as a key strategy for the prevention and management of chronic conditions. In this context, wearable devices such as smartwatches stand out by enabling continuous and objective monitoring of physical activity in older adults, expanding the potential for remote care and supporting health-related decision-making. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between physical activity metrics (daily step count, heart rate, active minutes, and overall physical activity level) obtained through smartwatches and pulmonary function in community-dwelling older adults, as well as to assess their functional health. This was an observational study in which participants wore a smartwatch for seven consecutive days, completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). In a second session, anthropometric measures were collected, and spirometry was performed (FEV₁, FVC, and FEV₁/FVC ratio). Data were organized in Excel and analyzed using IBM® SPSS®. The sample included 104 older adults (70.3 ± 6.8 years), mostly women (75.0%), self-identified as Black or Brown (63.5%), and with excess weight (53.9%). Most participants demonstrated good functional capacity (64.4%), with notable differences between groups: the restrictive group showed higher age, obesity, and diabetes prevalence, while the obstructive group included a greater proportion of Black/Brown individuals, lower BMI, and higher step counts. Spirometric results confirmed the restrictive and obstructive patterns characteristic of each group. The main findings indicated that older adults with obstructive pulmonary function had higher daily step counts, greater average active minutes, and higher maximum heart rates compared to the restrictive group, while no significant differences were found between those with normal pulmonary function and the restrictive group. The results showed that the restrictive group was associated with lower levels of physical activity. In contrast, the obstructive group was associated with higher physical activity levels and better-preserved chronotropic responses, even after adjusting for clinical and demographic variables. These findings suggest that the impact of pulmonary changes on active aging is not uniform, highlighting older adults with restrictive patterns as a priority group for clinical and community interventions.