Built Environment and Walking Behavior Among Brazilian Older Adults: A Population-Based Study

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BACKGROUND: Understanding the built environment influence on specific domains of walking is important for public health interventions to increase physical activity levels among older adults. PURPOSE: The purpose was to investigate the association between built environment characteristics and walking among older adults. METHODS: A population-based study was performed in 80 census tracts in Florianopolis, Brazil, including 1,705 older adults (60+ years old). Walking was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Built environment characteristics were assessed through a geographic information system. All analyses were conducted through a multilevel logistic regression. RESULTS: Individuals living in neighborhoods with a higher population density (odds ratio [OR]: 2.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.40-3.42), with a higher street connectivity (OR: 1.85; 95% CI, 1.16-2.94), a higher sidewalk proportion (OR: 1.77; 95% CI, 1.11-2.83), and paved streets (medium tertile: OR: 1.61, 95% CI, 1.04-2.49; highest tertile: OR: 2.11; 95% CI, 1.36-3.27) were more likely to walk for transportation. Regarding walking for leisure, only 2 predictors were associated, area income (OR: 1.48; 95% CI, 1.04-2.12) and street density (OR: 1.47; 95% CI, 1.02-2.10). CONCLUSIONS: Improving the neighborhood built environment is an important step for achieving higher levels of walking in the elderly population in a middle-income country.