Resumo Introdução A mudança na situação conjugal é recorrente em qualquer sociedade e tem relação com comportamentos de saúde. Entretanto, existem poucos estudos longitudinais com esse tema. Objetivo Verificar a incidência de comportamentos de proteção à saúde segundo a mudança na situação conjugal, após quatro anos, em pessoas de 40 anos ou mais de uma cidade do Sul do Brasil. Método Estudo longitudinal com sujeitos de 40 anos ou mais entrevistados em 2011 e em 2015 (n = 883). As variáveis dependentes foram as incidências da atividade física no tempo livre, consumo de frutas (CRF), consumo de verduras e legumes, tabagismo e consumo abusivo de álcool, enquanto a variável independente foi a manutenção ou a mudança da situação conjugal. Os dados foram analisados pelo teste do qui-quadrado e pela regressão de Poisson bruta e ajustada. Resultados Tendo como grupo referência aqueles que se mantiveram com companheiro(a), foram observadas maior incidência de abandono ao tabaco (RR = 3,23; IC95%: 1,40-7,43) e menor incidência no CRF (RR = 0,47; IC95%: 0,23-0,97) naqueles que deixaram de ter companheiro(a) e maior incidência no CRF (RR = 2,04; IC95%: 1,26-3,29) nos que passaram a ter companheiro(a). Nos demais comportamentos, não houve diferenças. Conclusão Foi constatada que a mudança da situação conjugal teve relação moderada com a incidência de comportamentos de proteção à saúde.

Abstract Background The change in the marital situation is recurrent in any society and is related to health behaviors. However, there are few studies on this topic in Latin America. Objective To verify the incidence of health protection behaviors according to changes in the marital situation, after four years, in people aged ≥40 years in a city in the south of Brazil. Method The dependent variables were: physical activity in free time, consumption of fruits, consumption of vegetables, smoking and abusive alcohol consumption (AAC), and independent marital status and its maintenance or change. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test and the adjusted Poisson regression. Results Having as a reference group of those who keep their partner, a higher incidence of smoking cessation was observed (RR= 3,23; IC95%:1,40-7,43) and a lower incidence of regular fruit consumption (RR=0,47; IC95%:0,23-0,97) were observed in those who finished the marital relationship. Those who started a marital relationship had higher incidence of fruit consumption (RR= 2,04; IC95%1,26-3,29). Conclusion It was observed a moderate relation between the marital situation and health behaviors.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of health risk behaviors among elderly widowers with that of elderly partnered males, as well as single or divorced/separated men. Additionally, we set out to examine the prevalence of risk behaviors in elderly widowered men according to age, education level, and race/skin color. A cross-sectional study was conducted with elderly men (≥ 60 years) who were interviewed through the Surveillance System of Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (Vigitel) in 2016 (n=5,384) and 2017 (n=5,801). The Vigitel survey includes representative samples of adults residing in the capitals of Brazilian states and the Federal District, and of those surveyed, 886 were widowers. Identified risk behaviors included physical inactivity during leisure time, irregular consumption of fruits, vegetables and legumes, smoking and alcohol abuse. The prevalence of smoking was lower among partnered elderly men [PR=0.68, CI95% (0.52-0.90)] than among widowers. There were no differences in the prevalence of other risk behaviors between widowers and other groups. When only widowers were taken into account, there was significant association of risk behaviors with age and educational level, but not with race/skin color.

RESUMEN Se buscó comparar la prevalencia de comportamientos de riesgo para la salud en hombres mayores viudos con las de hombres mayores con pareja, solteros y divorciados/separados, así como la prevalencia de comportamientos de riesgo en hombres mayores viudos según rango de edad, escolaridad y raza/color. Se realizó un estudio transversal con hombres mayores (≥ 60 años) entrevistados por el Sistema de Vigilancia de Factores de Riesgo y Protección para Enfermedades Crónicas por Encuesta Telefónica (Vigitel) en 2016 (n=5.384) y 2017 (n=5.801) que incluye muestras representativas de adultos de las capitales de los estados brasileños y del Distrito Federal. De ellos, 886 eran viudos. Los comportamientos de riesgo fueron: inactividad física en el tiempo libre, consumo irregular de frutas, verduras y legumbres, tabaquismo y consumo abusivo de alcohol. La prevalencia de tabaquismo fue menor entre los hombres mayores con pareja [RP = 0,68; IC95% (0,52-0,90)] que entre los viudos. En los demás comportamientos de riesgo no se observaron diferencias en la prevalencia de los viudos en relación a los demás grupos. Cuando se analizaron solamente los viudos, se observaron importantes asociaciones de los comportamientos de riesgo con las variables grupo de edad y escolaridad, pero no con raza/color.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of health risk behaviors among elderly widowers with that of elderly partnered males, as well as single or divorced/separated men. Additionally, we set out to examine the prevalence of risk behaviors in elderly widowered men according to age, education level, and race/skin color. A cross-sectional study was conducted with elderly men (≥ 60 years) who were interviewed through the Surveillance System of Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (Vigitel) in 2016 (n=5,384) and 2017 (n=5,801). The Vigitel survey includes representative samples of adults residing in the capitals of Brazilian states and the Federal District, and of those surveyed, 886 were widowers. Identified risk behaviors included physical inactivity during leisure time, irregular consumption of fruits, vegetables and legumes, smoking and alcohol abuse. The prevalence of smoking was lower among partnered elderly men [PR=0.68, CI95% (0.52-0.90)] than among widowers. There were no differences in the prevalence of other risk behaviors between widowers and other groups. When only widowers were taken into account, there was significant association of risk behaviors with age and educational level, but not with race/skin color.

RESUMEN Se buscó comparar la prevalencia de comportamientos de riesgo para la salud en hombres mayores viudos con las de hombres mayores con pareja, solteros y divorciados/separados, así como la prevalencia de comportamientos de riesgo en hombres mayores viudos según rango de edad, escolaridad y raza/color. Se realizó un estudio transversal con hombres mayores (≥ 60 años) entrevistados por el Sistema de Vigilancia de Factores de Riesgo y Protección para Enfermedades Crónicas por Encuesta Telefónica (Vigitel) en 2016 (n=5.384) y 2017 (n=5.801) que incluye muestras representativas de adultos de las capitales de los estados brasileños y del Distrito Federal. De ellos, 886 eran viudos. Los comportamientos de riesgo fueron: inactividad física en el tiempo libre, consumo irregular de frutas, verduras y legumbres, tabaquismo y consumo abusivo de alcohol. La prevalencia de tabaquismo fue menor entre los hombres mayores con pareja [RP = 0,68; IC95% (0,52-0,90)] que entre los viudos. En los demás comportamientos de riesgo no se observaron diferencias en la prevalencia de los viudos en relación a los demás grupos. Cuando se analizaron solamente los viudos, se observaron importantes asociaciones de los comportamientos de riesgo con las variables grupo de edad y escolaridad, pero no con raza/color.