Physical activity is a step towards a long life

The agenda of the next meeting of the CIS Network of Institutes for Public Health and Healthcare Digital Transformation included issues of promoting activities aimed at maintaining active longevity among the population, as well as measures that promote motivation for leading a physically active lifestyle.

Vitaly Pisarnik, Head of the Laboratory of Healthcare Organizational Technologies at the Scientific and Practical Center for Medical Technologies, Informatization, Management and Economics of Healthcare of the Republic of Belarus, in his speech told about the STEPS studies conducted in Belarus in 2016 and 2020. (The purpose of the STEPS is to study the prevalence of the main risk factors for non-communicable diseases to assess the baseline situation and effectively plan preventive and control measures. Physical activity assessment is one of the study parameters.) The comparative result showed that due to healthy lifestyle popularization in the Republic of Belarus, the proportion of population with insufficient physical activity decreased from 13,2% (12,8% men, 13,5% women) to 11,6% (11,2% men, 11,9% women) in 4 years. At the same time, the share of those engaged in high-intensity physical activity increased by 7,5%.

Tatyana Slazhneva, Chief Specialist of the Department for Non-communicable Diseases Prevention of the National Center for Public Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, presented measures to improve welfare of older people in Kazakhstan, implemented within the frames of “Active Longevity” project, which runs until 2025. In particular, Active Longevity Centers have been established in Almaty, focused on providing social and medical care and organization of free time for older people, as well as involving them in active creative and social life. A study of older people lifestyle was also conducted, which revealed that the ageing population of Kazakhstan smokes and drinks alcohol less, and is more concerned about their health. However, health promotion in 42,6% of cases is associated with taking medications, in 22.5% – with taking nutritional supplements, in 21.6% – with visits to a doctor.

Ivan Shibalkov, Leading researcher of RIH Healthcare Organization’s Scientific Basis Department, shared some demographic trends existing in the Russian Federation. According to the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated 05/07/2024 No. 309 "On national development goals of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030 and for the future up to 2036", one of the targets and objectives, which implementation characterizes achievement of the national goal "Population preservation, health promotion and improvement of human well-being, family support" approved an increase in life expectancy up to 78 years by 2030 and up to 81 years by 2036. This includes an outstripping growth of healthy life expectancy indicators, as well as reduction of life expectancy indicators’ differences by at least 25% by 2036 compared to the level of 2023.

Marina Popovich, a representative of the NMIC for Therapy and Preventive Medicine of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, a leading researcher at the Laboratory of Integrated Prevention Programs, presented strategic directions for increasing physical activity in the Russian Federation. For example, the “Walking Man” project, implemented by the Charitable Foundation of the National Health League with the support of the Ministry of Sports of Russia within the framework of the Federal project "Sport is the Norm of Life" and included in the best practices collection "Active Longevity" of the national Demography project in 2022, is designed to motivate middle-aged and elderly people to increase daily physical activity.

Daria Khalturina, Head of RIH Department of Risk Factors Prevention and Communication Technologies in Healthcare, presented an overview of global experience in implementing effective measures to increase physical activity and emphasized that "physical activity reduces the risks of all-cause mortality, namely 2,5 hours per week (equivalent to 30 minutes of moderate activity per day for 5 days a week) compared to zero activity, is associated with a 19% reduction in all-cause mortality risk, while 7 hours of moderate activity per week – with 24% reduction."

Developing infrastructure to support walking, biking or scooting, physical activity counseling, using various “cues” – motivational signs about walking upstairs instead of an elevator – and using physical activity trackers were identified as effective measures to increase physical activity.