Autopercepção de saúde associado a qualidade de vida em idosas praticantes de atividade física

Introduction: The Brazilian population expectancy of life has been increasing, thereby is important to understand the way that the elderly has perceived their health status, for a better quality of life (QoL). Aim: To verify the association between the self-perception of health and the QoL by the older women that practice physical activity (PA) and to analyze the correlation between the time in PA and the perception of health. Methods: Quantitative, cross-sectional and correlational. Instruments: International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire – BREF and OLD, Sociodemographic Questionnaire with the question: “In a general way, do you consider yourself a healthy person?” and the Body Mass Index (BMI) calculation. It was realized the descriptive analysis of variables, the point biserial correlation coefficient test and the multiple linear regression with significance of p<0,05. Results: There was a good perception of QoL and health perception in the sample. The BMI evidenced the participants overweight. It was showed the existence of inverse correlation on the Physical domain of QoL in the elderly with negative health perception(r=-0,436; p=0,00). Conclusion: There was no statistical significance to associate the perception of health with QoL. Their perception of health is positive and the time of weekly practice of PA is above that recommended by WHO. There was a good perception of the QoL in general by the group, however, the correlation between the practice of PA and the Physical domain of elderly women with negative perception of health was reversed.