Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To verify factors associated with deteriorating lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic, including physical activity, cigarette and alcohol intake in lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals, transvestites and people with related identities (LGBT+).

METHODS:

This was a cross-sectional study with individuals aged ≥18 years. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).

RESULTS:

Of the 975 participants, 48.9% (95%CI 45.7;52.1) decreased physical activity, 6.2% (95%CI 4.8;7.9) increased cigarette smoking, and 17.3% (95%CI 15.0;19.8) increased alcohol intake. Physical activity deteriorated among individuals who adhered to mask use (OR=2.26; 95%CI 1.20;4.23), cigarette smoking increased among individuals who had a chronic health condition (OR=2.39; 95%CI 1.03;5.56), and alcohol intake increased among cisgender women (OR=1.95; 95%CI 1.31;2.92) and individuals living with a partner (OR=1.89; 95%CI 1.23;2.91).

CONCLUSION:

Lifestyle deterioration stood out among cisgender women, individuals with a chronic health condition and those who adhered to mask use.

Keywords:
Sexual and Gender Minorities; COVID-19; Sedentary Behavior; Tobacco Use Disorder; Alcohol Drinking; Cross-Sectional Studies

INTRODUCTION

The rapid spread and high severity of coronavirus subtype 2, or SARS-CoV-2, led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare, on March 11^th 2020, that the disease had gained pandemic proportions, naming it Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). ¹1. World Health Organization. Timeline: WHO’s COVID­19 response [Internet]. 2021. Genebra: World Health Organization; 2021 [update 2021 Jan 25; cited 2021 Abr 12]. Available from: Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/interactive-timeline
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases... In Brazil, community transmission of the disease was officially announced on March 20^th 2020,²2. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Portaria no 454, de 20 de março de 2020. Declara, em todo o território nacional, o estado de transmissão comunitária do coronavirus (COVID-19) [Internet]. Diário Oficial da União, Brasilia (DF), 2020 mar 20 [citado 2021 maio 24]; Seção 1:1. Disponível em: Disponível em: https://www.in.gov.br/en/web/dou/-/portaria-n-454-de-20-de-marco-de-2020-249091587
https://www.in.gov.br/en/web/dou/-/porta... when the first social distancing measures began. By May 24^th 2021, Brazil had recorded 16,120,756 COVID-19 cases and 449,858 COVID-19 deaths. ³3. Ministério da Saúde (BR). Secretaria de Vigilância à Saúde. Guia de vigilância epidemiológica: painel coronavírus [Internet]. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2021 [atualizado 2021 Ago 14; citado 2021 Maio 24]. Disponível em: Disponível em: https://covid.saude.gov.br
https://covid.saude.gov.br...

As a result of social distancing, some vulnerabilities, inherent to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and related identities (LGBT+) population, have become more evident. ⁴4. Gibb JK, DuBois LZ, Williams S, McKerracher L, Juster RP, Fields J. Sexual and gender minority health vulnerabilities during the COVID-19 health crisis. Am J Hum Biol. 2020;32(5):e23499. doi: 10.1002/ajhb.23499
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.23499... There is noteworthy concern with the ability of these social segments to achieve social distancing, this being an attitude that depends on factors related to type of job, housing conditions and sociocultural characteristics. ⁵5. Bezerra ACV, Silva CEM, Soares FRG, Silva JAM. Fatores associados ao comportamento da população durante o isolamento social na pandemia de COVID-19. Cien Saude Colet. 2020;25(Supl.1):2411-21. doi: 10.1590/1413-81232020256.1.10792020
https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232020256...

Healthy lifestyle is defined as a way of living that decreases the risk of disease and early death, especially when it comes to cardiovascular disease and lung cancer, and includes behaviors such as regular physical activity, smoking and drinking. ⁶6. World Health Organization. Healthy living: what is a healthy lifestyle? [Internet]. Copenhagen: World Health Organization; 1999 [cited 2021 Sep 15]. Available from: Available from: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/108180/EUR_ICP_LVNG_01_07_02.pdf;jsessionid=8B7461DEA98C5FEBCFB1D8CCC1DF73C6?sequence=1
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handl... Data collected during the pandemic on 45,161 general population Brazilians, aged 18 years or more, showed an 18% reduction in physical activity, associated with higher intake of ultra-processed food, such as chocolates and sweet cookies (5.8%) and alcoholic beverages (17.6%). In the same sample, considering only smokers, 34% of them reported an increase in the number of cigarettes they smoked. ⁷7. Malta DC, Szwarcwald CL, Barros MBA, Gomes CS, Machado IE, Souza Júnior PRB, et al. A pandemia da COVID-19 e as mudanças no estilo de vida dos brasileiros adultos: um estudo transversal, 2020. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2020; 29(4):e2020407. doi: 10.1590/S1679-49742020000400026
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1679-4974202000...

Historically, higher rates of smoking and drinking are found among the LGBT+ population (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transvestite and related identities). ⁸8. Evans-Polce RJ, Veliz PT, Boyd CJ, Hughes TL, McCabe SE. Associations between sexual orientation discrimination and substance use disorders: differences by age in US adults. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2019;55(1):101-10. doi: 10.1007/s00127-019-01694-x
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-019-01694... ^,99. Rice CE, Vasilenko SA, Fish JN, Lanza ST. Sexual minority health disparities: an examination of age-related trends across adulthood in a national cross-sectional sample. Ann Epidemiol. 2019; 31:20-5. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2019.01.001
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2019... This poorer lifestyle is partly explained by the minority stress theory, ¹⁰10. Flentje A, Heck NC, Brennan JM, Meyer IH. The relationship between minority stress and biological outcomes: a systematic review. J Behav Med. 2010;43(5):673-94. doi: 10.1007/s10865-019-00120-6
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-019-00120... and entails even greater vulnerability to COVID-19. Poorer lifestyle is also related to a greater tendency of LGBT+ mental health impairment during the pandemic, as demonstrated in Brazil11. #VoteLGBT. Diagnóstico LGBT+ na pandemia: desafios da comunidade LGBT+ no contexto de isolamento social em enfrentamento à pandemia de Coronavírus. [Internet]. 2021 [citado 2021 Fev 26]. Disponível em: Disponível em: https://votelgbt.org/pesquisas
https://votelgbt.org/pesquisas... and in other countries.12. Santos GM, Ackerman B, Rao A, Wallach S, Ayala G, Lamontage E, et al . Economic, mental health, HIV prevention and HIV treatment impacts of COVID-19 and the COVID-19 response on a global sample of cisgender gay men and other men who have sex with men. AIDS Behav. 2021;25(2):311-21. doi: 10.1007/s10461-020-02969-0 Despite this, data regarding the lifestyle of this population is still scarce. A study conducted with men who have sex with men and transgender women, all Latino immigrants in the United States, showed a 23.1% increase in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic period. ⁰13. MacCarthy S, Izenberg M, Barreras JL, Brooks RA, Gonzalez A, Linnemayr S. Rapid mixed-methods assessment of COVID-19 impact on Latinx sexual minority men and Latinx transgender women. PLoS ONE. 2020;15(12):e0244421. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244421
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.024... Similarly, a study conducted in Brazil with MSM and transgender persons14. Torres TS, Hoagland B, Bezerra DRB, Garner A, Jalil EM, Coelho LE, et al. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on sexual minority populations in Brazil: an analysis of social/racial disparities in maintaining social distancing and a description of sexual behavior. AIDS Behav. 2020;25(1):73-84. doi: 10.1007/s10461-020-02984-1
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-02984... identified that 29.7% of them increased their frequency of alcohol intake during the pandemic. However, these studies did not explore predisposing factors for lifestyle deterioration regarding regular physical activity, cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption.

According to the WHO, physical activity helps improve mental health¹⁵15. World Health Organization. Global action plan on physical activity 2018-2030: more active people for a healthier world [Internet]. Genebra: World Health Organization; 2018 [cited 2021 Feb 26]. 104 p. Available from: Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/272722/9789241514187-eng.pdf
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/hand... and stress management while social distancing measures are in force. ⁵5. Bezerra ACV, Silva CEM, Soares FRG, Silva JAM. Fatores associados ao comportamento da população durante o isolamento social na pandemia de COVID-19. Cien Saude Colet. 2020;25(Supl.1):2411-21. doi: 10.1590/1413-81232020256.1.10792020
https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232020256... In turn, unhealthy habits can worsen mental health.⁵5. Bezerra ACV, Silva CEM, Soares FRG, Silva JAM. Fatores associados ao comportamento da população durante o isolamento social na pandemia de COVID-19. Cien Saude Colet. 2020;25(Supl.1):2411-21. doi: 10.1590/1413-81232020256.1.10792020
https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232020256... In addition to causing deterioration of respiratory tract conditions, smoking increases predisposition to contracting severe COVID-19.⁷7. Malta DC, Szwarcwald CL, Barros MBA, Gomes CS, Machado IE, Souza Júnior PRB, et al. A pandemia da COVID-19 e as mudanças no estilo de vida dos brasileiros adultos: um estudo transversal, 2020. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2020; 29(4):e2020407. doi: 10.1590/S1679-49742020000400026
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1679-4974202000... In turn, excessive alcohol intake weakens the immune system¹⁶16. Szabo G, Wands JR, Eken A, Osna NA, Weinman SA, MacHida K, et al. Alcohol and hepatitis C virus-interactions in immune dysfunctions and liver damage. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2010;34(10):1675-86. doi: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2010.01255.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-0277.2010... and as such increases vulnerability to SARS-CoV-2. In addition, alcohol is a potent central nervous system depressant, thus exacerbating episodes of depression and anxiety during social distancing.¹⁷17. Garcia LP, Sanchez ZM. Alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: a necessary reflection for confronting the situation. Cad Saude Publica. 2020;36(10):e00124520. doi: 10.1590/0102-311X00124520
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X0012452...

As yet there are no studies in Brazil concerning the LGBT+ population in the context of the pandemic that address lifestyle deterioration and its predisposing factors. This information could help health professionals in defining target groups for health education actions among the LGBT+ population, and thus contribute to public policies to minimize impact on the health of these groups during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study aimed to verify factors associated with lifestyle deterioration among the LGBT+ population during the COVID-19 pandemic, considering regular physical activity, cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Brazil, from August 19^th to November 30^th 2020, with a target population consisting of individuals identified as Brazilians who belong to the LGBT+ segment of the population, based on an online survey.

The study was based on data from the LGBT+ Health Survey, the objectives of which were to characterize the LGBT+ population during the COVID-19 pandemic and to specify the characteristics of the pandemic in this population. The LGBT+ Health Survey was an anonymous online survey that gathered sociodemographic, health, sexuality and social discrimination information.¹⁸18. Torres JL, Gonçalves GP, Pinho AA, Souza MHN. The Brazilian lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and related identities (LGBT+) health survey: methodology and descriptive results. Cad Saude Publica. 2020;37(9): e00069521. doi: 10.1590/0102-311X00069521
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X0006952... Although not representative, the survey was publicized nationally on social networks such as Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp, using a “snowball” method to pass on the survey link¹⁹19. Cohen N, Tamar A. Field research in conflict environments: methodological challenges and snowball sampling. J Peace Res. 2011;48(4):423-35. doi: 10.1177/0022343311405698
https://doi.org/10.1177/0022343311405698... whereby one participant indicates the survey to someone else and so on and so forth. In addition, news items about the survey were published on the official websites of the participating universities, including the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) and the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), in addition to radio coverage and online stories, in order to reach the largest possible number of people.

The study included all people from this population who met the inclusion criteria, which were: being 18 years of age or older, living in one of Brazil’s five regions, self-reporting belonging to the LGBT+ population and having access to the internet in order to be able to fill out the questionnaire; and, of course, having agreed to take part in the study.

Given that the survey was not specifically designed for the dependent variables of this study, the sample size calculation was based on a conservative estimate of the prevalence of the main outcomes to be studied (50%; 5% sampling error), considering a 99% significance level. Thus the minimum sample size was defined as being 664 respondents.¹⁸18. Torres JL, Gonçalves GP, Pinho AA, Souza MHN. The Brazilian lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and related identities (LGBT+) health survey: methodology and descriptive results. Cad Saude Publica. 2020;37(9): e00069521. doi: 10.1590/0102-311X00069521
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X0006952...

The survey itself was divided into four blocks of information: sociodemographic; sexuality; violence/discrimination; and health conditions. The variables considered in the study were retrieved from the sociodemographic and health conditions blocks of information. The dependent variables were those related to lifestyle characteristics during the pandemic:

The independent variables were:

All these characteristics were measured according to the individual’s perception of them and were compared with the same characteristics reported for the time prior to COVID-19, in terms of their lifestyle having deteriorated, improved or remained the same in the pandemic period.

Respondents were asked (i) whether or not they practiced physical activities regularly, and how long in minutes they spent doing them, (ii) whether or not they smoked and how many cigarettes they smoked a day, and (iii) whether or not they drank alcohol before the pandemic, and frequency of drinking expressed in days per week, as well as the number of units of alcoholic beverage drunk each time. Depending on their answers, those who answered that they did regular physical activity, for example, were asked the following: After the COVID-19 pandemic started, were you able to maintain the frequency and time spent doing physical activity reported for the period prior to the pandemic?, with the following answer options ‘yes, I continued the same’, ‘no, I decreased the frequency and/or time spent doing physical activity’, and ‘no, I increased the frequency and/or time spent doing physical activity’. Similar questions were asked about cigarette smoking and alcohol intake, in the case of those who reported smoking and/or drinking before the pandemic.

Returning to regular physical activity, those who reported having decreased frequency and/or time spent doing physical activity were classified as ‘deteriorating’, while those who reported having increased or maintained frequency and/or hours of physical activity were classified as ‘improved or continues the same’. In the case of cigarette and alcohol consumption, those who reported increasing the number of cigarettes and frequency and/or units of alcohol consumed were classified as ‘deteriorating’, while those who reported decreasing or maintaining the number of cigarettes and frequency and/or units of alcohol consumed were classified as ‘improved or continues the same’.

The way the Brazilian regions were categorized was chosen taking into consideration that most of the sample came from the Southeast region.¹⁸18. Torres JL, Gonçalves GP, Pinho AA, Souza MHN. The Brazilian lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and related identities (LGBT+) health survey: methodology and descriptive results. Cad Saude Publica. 2020;37(9): e00069521. doi: 10.1590/0102-311X00069521
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X0006952... Chronic health conditions were those reported as having been diagnosed by a physician, which included diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, autoimmune disease, chronic kidney failure and cancer. Depression was considered separately from other chronic conditions since mental health is an important issue for the LGBT+ population. 11. #VoteLGBT. Diagnóstico LGBT+ na pandemia: desafios da comunidade LGBT+ no contexto de isolamento social em enfrentamento à pandemia de Coronavírus. [Internet]. 2021 [citado 2021 Fev 26]. Disponível em: Disponível em: https://votelgbt.org/pesquisas
https://votelgbt.org/pesquisas... Finally, regarding adherence to social distancing and use of masks, respondents had to fully agree that they had followed official health authority recommendations.

First, a descriptive analysis of the sample data was performed using absolute and relative frequencies. Heterogeneous differences between the categories of deteriorating lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic were identified by performing Pearson’s chi-square test. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) in order to investigate factors associated with deteriorating lifestyle among the LGBT+ population throughout the pandemic. This analysis included only those individuals who, before the emergence of COVID-19, already had the selected lifestyles, i.e., physical activity, cigarette smoking and alcohol intake, whereby the reference category adopted was maintenance or improvement of the respective lifestyle. Separate statistical models were created for each of the outcomes. Variables with p<0.20 in the crude models were included in the adjusted models. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test was applied to analyze the fit of the final models, and the multicollinearity test was applied to test correlation between the variables included in the final models. All statistical analyses were performed using Stata 14.2 SE software (Stata-Corp., College Station, Texas, USA).

The LGBT+ Health Survey was approved on August 6^th 2020, by the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Research Ethics Committee: Certificate of Submission for Ethical Appraisal No. 34123920.9.0000.5149; Opinion No. 4.198.297. Because it was an anonymous questionnaire, a request was made for the Free and Informed Consent form to be waived. Notwithstanding, the researchers carried out the consent process, which consisted of a brief description of the research objectives and design, provided the contact details of one of the researchers in charge, and informed about potential risks and benefits for respondents.

RESULTS

Of the 1,036 LGBT+ individuals who agreed to answer the online survey, 976 met the inclusion criteria, and of these, 975 reported having information regarding the dependent variables (regular physical activity, cigarette smoking and alcohol intake) and were included in the analysis (Figure 1).

Between 1 and 13 data items were missing for six of the independent variables, since it was not obligatory to answer any of the questions in the survey blocks.

Regarding lifestyle deterioration during the pandemic, 48.9% (95%CI 45.7;52.1) reduced regular physical activity, 6.2% (95%CI 4.8;7.9) increased cigarette smoking, and 17.3% (95%CI 15.0;19.8) increased alcohol intake. The mean age of the participants was 31.3 years (standard deviation: 11.5).

Table 1 describes the characteristics of all respondents according to lifestyle deterioration during the pandemic. The majority were homosexual (72.2%), were of white race/skin color (60.1%), and exactly half were cisgender males (50.0%). The most frequent age group was 18 to 29 years (55.4%), and predominant schooling was up to degree level (68.4%). Higher frequency of deterioration in practicing regular physical activity was found in cisgender women, individuals in the 30-49 and 50 and over age groups, those with higher schooling (postgraduate), those who did not receive emergency government aid during the pandemic, those who did not report depression, and those who did not report a close person diagnosed - currently or previously - as having COVID-19. Greater frequency of increased cigarette smoking was found in cisgender men and transsexuals, transvestites, non-binary or other gender minorities, individuals with a single chronic health condition, and those with depression.

Moreover, frequency of increased cigarette smoking was also greater among those who did not adhere to social distancing and those who adhered to use of masks. Finally, greater frequency of increased alcohol intake was found among those who were younger (up to 49 years old), lived with a partner, did not receive emergency government aid during the pandemic, had depression, did not adhere to social distancing, as well as those who did not adhere to use of masks.

Table 2 shows the results of the crude and adjusted models of factors associated with each of the characteristics of lifestyle deterioration during the pandemic, considering only individuals who already had that lifestyle before the emergence of COVID-19. Since multicollinearity was not evident in any of the adjusted models (variance inflation factor <2), all independent variables with p<0.20 in the crude models were kept in the adjusted models. All models showed p>0.05 in the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, revealing adequacy. Regarding deterioration in practicing regular physical activity, statistically higher frequency was found only among those who adhered to mask use (OR=2.26; 95%CI 1.20;4.23). Among those with increased cigarette smoking, statistically higher frequency was found only among individuals with a chronic health condition (OR=2.39; 95%CI 1.03;5.56) compared to those with no chronic health condition. As for increased alcohol intake, statistically greater frequency was found in cisgender women (OR=1.95; 95%CI 1.31;2.92), compared to cisgender men, and also for the variable ‘living with a partner’ (OR=1.89; 95%CI 1.23;2.91), compared to not living with a partner. In contrast, statistically lower frequencies of increased alcohol intake were found among the ≥50 years age group (OR=0.42; 95%CI 0.19;0.89), in relation to the 18-29 age group, as well as among those receiving emergency government aid during the pandemic (OR=0.52; 95%CI 0.33;0.83), and among those adhering to social distancing (OR=0.51; 95%CI 0.35;0.75).

DISCUSSION

The results of this research suggest that the lifestyles of some groups of LGBT+ individuals deteriorated when they were subjected to the environment imposed by the pandemic. Deterioration in regular physical activity was found only among those who adhered to use of masks. Increased cigarette smoking, in turn, was found only among those who reported having a single chronic health condition. Regarding increased alcohol intake, the results showed higher frequencies among females and females who lived with a partner. Still with regard to increased alcohol intake, this finding was negatively associated with the 50 years and over age group, receipt of emergency government aid during the pandemic and adherence to social distancing.

The results showed that among those who practiced regular physical activity, deterioration in this behavior was greater among those who adhered to use of masks. A Brazilian study showed that older adults who maintained healthy living habits before the pandemic tended to adhere more to preventive measures related to COVID-19.²⁰20. Peixoto SV, Nascimento-Souza MA, Mambrini JVM, Andrade FB, Malta DC, Lima-Costa MF. Comportamentos em saúde e adoção de medidas de proteção individual durante a pandemia do novo coronavírus: iniciativa ELSI-COVID-19. Cad Saúde Pública. 2020;36(Supl. 3): e00195420. doi: 10.1590/0102-311x00195420
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311x0019542... However, those who practiced physical activities adhered less to use of masks, suggesting that this measure may make it difficult to continue practicing these activities due to breathing discomfort.²⁰20. Peixoto SV, Nascimento-Souza MA, Mambrini JVM, Andrade FB, Malta DC, Lima-Costa MF. Comportamentos em saúde e adoção de medidas de proteção individual durante a pandemia do novo coronavírus: iniciativa ELSI-COVID-19. Cad Saúde Pública. 2020;36(Supl. 3): e00195420. doi: 10.1590/0102-311x00195420
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311x0019542... It should be emphasized that this study did not assess changes in lifestyles. The current stage of the pandemic may, by itself, contribute to a reduction in the number of people doing regular physical and in the time spent doing it. The results found reveal that almost 50% of the LGBT+ population had reduced regular physical activity, while among the general Brazilian population in the same age group, this reduction was 18%.⁷ In 2020, Malta et al. compared the pandemic period to public holidays and vacations, these commonly being occasions on which people relax, resulting in a reduction in movements and an increase in hours spent watching television programs and browsing on the internet, thus characterizing increased sedentary behavior on these occasions. ⁷7. Malta DC, Szwarcwald CL, Barros MBA, Gomes CS, Machado IE, Souza Júnior PRB, et al. A pandemia da COVID-19 e as mudanças no estilo de vida dos brasileiros adultos: um estudo transversal, 2020. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2020; 29(4):e2020407. doi: 10.1590/S1679-49742020000400026
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1679-4974202000... Despite this, according to a study conducted by Guimarães Lima et al. in 2019, ²¹21. Lima MG, Malta DC, Monteiro CN, Sousa NFS, Stopa SR, Medina LPB, et al. Leisure-time physical activity and sports in the Brazilian population: a social disparity analysis. PLoS ONE. 2019;14(12):e0225940. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225940
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.022... walking, soccer and bodybuilding, precisely the sports that are most practiced Brazil, go against social distancing measures, since they are practiced mainly in public spaces, which promotes contact between those who practice them. According to the theory underlying the scale called Motives for Physical Activity Measure - Revised (MPAM-R), ²²22. Ryan RM, Frederick CM, Lepes D, Rubio N, Sheldon KM. Intrinsic motivation and exercise adherence. Int J Sport Psychol. 1997;28(4):335-54. which can be used to measure people’s motivation to engage in physical activity, interaction with groups is determinant in this sense. Considering the pandemic scenario, these collective activities have been considerably compromised, which could impact a person’s decision to reduce physical activity.

In relation to increased alcohol intake, mental health impairment may explain such behavior, 23. Santos MVF, Campos MR, Fortes SLCL. Relação do uso de álcool e transtornos mentais comuns com a qualidade de vida de pacientes na atenção primária em saúde. Cien Saude Colet. 2019;24(3):1051-63. doi: 10.1590/1413-81232018243.01232017
https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232018243...

24. Wootton RE, Richmond RC, Stuijfzand BG, Lawn RB, Sallis HM, Taylor GMJ, et al. Evidence for causal effects of lifetime smoking on risk for depression and schizophrenia: a Mendelian randomisation study. Psychol Med. 2019;50(14):2435-43. doi: doi: 10.1017/S0033291719002678
https://doi.org/doi: 10.1017/S0033291719... ^-25. Stanton R, To QG, Khalesi S, Williams SL, Alley SJ, Thwaite TL, Fenning AS, Vandelanotte C. Depression, anxiety and stress during COVID-19: associations with changes in physical activity, sleep, tobacco and alcohol use in australian adults. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(11):4065. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17114065
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17114065... either due to fear of contamination, the need for social distancing or, moreover, because of a drop in income.26. World Health Organization. Mental health [Internet]. Genebra: World Health Organization; 2021 [cited 2021 Fev 26]. Available from: Available from: https://www.who.int/health-topics/mental-health#tab=tab_1
https://www.who.int/health-topics/mental... The results of our study pointed to a 17.3% increase in the consumption of alcoholic beverages during the pandemic, similar to that of the general Brazilian population (17.6%),⁷7. Malta DC, Szwarcwald CL, Barros MBA, Gomes CS, Machado IE, Souza Júnior PRB, et al. A pandemia da COVID-19 e as mudanças no estilo de vida dos brasileiros adultos: um estudo transversal, 2020. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2020; 29(4):e2020407. doi: 10.1590/S1679-49742020000400026
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1679-4974202000... although lower than that reported in April and May 2020 (prior to the pandemic becoming established throughout Brazil), especially among its LGBT+ contingent.¹⁴14. Torres TS, Hoagland B, Bezerra DRB, Garner A, Jalil EM, Coelho LE, et al. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on sexual minority populations in Brazil: an analysis of social/racial disparities in maintaining social distancing and a description of sexual behavior. AIDS Behav. 2020;25(1):73-84. doi: 10.1007/s10461-020-02984-1
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-02984... As for tobacco use, an increase of 42% among smokers was found (data not shown), similar to other proportional data on the Brazilian LGBT+ population (49.4%)¹⁴14. Torres TS, Hoagland B, Bezerra DRB, Garner A, Jalil EM, Coelho LE, et al. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on sexual minority populations in Brazil: an analysis of social/racial disparities in maintaining social distancing and a description of sexual behavior. AIDS Behav. 2020;25(1):73-84. doi: 10.1007/s10461-020-02984-1
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-02984... and higher than that found for the general Brazilian population (34%).%),⁷7. Malta DC, Szwarcwald CL, Barros MBA, Gomes CS, Machado IE, Souza Júnior PRB, et al. A pandemia da COVID-19 e as mudanças no estilo de vida dos brasileiros adultos: um estudo transversal, 2020. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2020; 29(4):e2020407. doi: 10.1590/S1679-49742020000400026
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1679-4974202000... A study conducted with Australia’s general population in April 2020, i.e. during the pandemic, found association between deteriorating lifestyle and depression, anxiety and stress symptoms, these being conditions that are mostly more prominent among women%),²⁵25. Stanton R, To QG, Khalesi S, Williams SL, Alley SJ, Thwaite TL, Fenning AS, Vandelanotte C. Depression, anxiety and stress during COVID-19: associations with changes in physical activity, sleep, tobacco and alcohol use in australian adults. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(11):4065. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17114065
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17114065... and may explain increased alcohol intake. %),²⁵25. Stanton R, To QG, Khalesi S, Williams SL, Alley SJ, Thwaite TL, Fenning AS, Vandelanotte C. Depression, anxiety and stress during COVID-19: associations with changes in physical activity, sleep, tobacco and alcohol use in australian adults. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(11):4065. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17114065
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17114065... Unlike what was reported before the pandemic, regarding Brazilian men who have sex with men and transgender persons, %),¹⁴14. Torres TS, Hoagland B, Bezerra DRB, Garner A, Jalil EM, Coelho LE, et al. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on sexual minority populations in Brazil: an analysis of social/racial disparities in maintaining social distancing and a description of sexual behavior. AIDS Behav. 2020;25(1):73-84. doi: 10.1007/s10461-020-02984-1
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-02984... the findings of our study showed increased alcohol consumption only among women. In the case of women with minority gender identities (including cisgender, lesbian or bisexual, and non-binary women), contents posted on social networks and related to alcohol consumption shifted from a ‘party-related’ pattern to a ‘socializing and overcoming the pandemic’ pattern. %),²⁷27. Cerezo A, Ramirez A, O’Shaughnessy T, Sanchez A, Mattis S, Ross A. Understanding the power of social media during COVID-19: forming social norms for drinking among sexual minority gender expansive college women. J Homosex. 2021;68(4):560-76. doi: 10.1080/00918369.2020.1868183
https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2020.18... These findings reinforce use of alcohol as an important compensatory mechanism for coping with the pandemic among this group.

Older age groups (≥50 years), as well as those who received emergency government aid during the pandemic and who adhered to social distancing, showed less susceptibility to increased alcohol intake in the period studied, possibly a consequence of the opportunity of maintaining interaction between individuals. LGBT+ Brazilians who consumed five or more units of alcohol on a single occasion (binge drinking) showed greater difficulty in adhering to social distancing, %),¹⁴14. Torres TS, Hoagland B, Bezerra DRB, Garner A, Jalil EM, Coelho LE, et al. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on sexual minority populations in Brazil: an analysis of social/racial disparities in maintaining social distancing and a description of sexual behavior. AIDS Behav. 2020;25(1):73-84. doi: 10.1007/s10461-020-02984-1
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-02984... according to a study the result of which corroborates that of our research. In addition, greater suffering due to social distancing has been reported for younger people, %),²⁵25. Stanton R, To QG, Khalesi S, Williams SL, Alley SJ, Thwaite TL, Fenning AS, Vandelanotte C. Depression, anxiety and stress during COVID-19: associations with changes in physical activity, sleep, tobacco and alcohol use in australian adults. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(11):4065. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17114065
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17114065... ^, %),²⁸28. Knell G, Robertson MC, Dooley EE, Burford K, Mendez KS. health behavior changes during COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent “stay-at-home” orders. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(17):6268. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17176268
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176268... belonging to the so-called potentially productive group (between 15 and 59 years old).²⁸28. Knell G, Robertson MC, Dooley EE, Burford K, Mendez KS. health behavior changes during COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent “stay-at-home” orders. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(17):6268. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17176268
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176268... Outside of the pandemic period, these individuals are expected to have more social interaction and therefore, at a time of mandatory isolation, are expected to be the most mentally impacted by COVID-19. ²⁵25. Stanton R, To QG, Khalesi S, Williams SL, Alley SJ, Thwaite TL, Fenning AS, Vandelanotte C. Depression, anxiety and stress during COVID-19: associations with changes in physical activity, sleep, tobacco and alcohol use in australian adults. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(11):4065. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17114065
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17114065... ^,2828. Knell G, Robertson MC, Dooley EE, Burford K, Mendez KS. health behavior changes during COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent “stay-at-home” orders. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(17):6268. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17176268
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176268... Among the more vulnerable, especially those who received emergency government aid, although their mental health was also considerably impacted by unemployment and financial difficulty, ⁵5. Bezerra ACV, Silva CEM, Soares FRG, Silva JAM. Fatores associados ao comportamento da população durante o isolamento social na pandemia de COVID-19. Cien Saude Colet. 2020;25(Supl.1):2411-21. doi: 10.1590/1413-81232020256.1.10792020
https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232020256... this was not reflected in increased alcohol intake. More vulnerable groups had to give priority to food⁵5. Bezerra ACV, Silva CEM, Soares FRG, Silva JAM. Fatores associados ao comportamento da população durante o isolamento social na pandemia de COVID-19. Cien Saude Colet. 2020;25(Supl.1):2411-21. doi: 10.1590/1413-81232020256.1.10792020
https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232020256... and somewhere to live, so that less money was left over for alcohol intake.

Despite having strong points, such as being the first nationwide survey to investigate the topic and to highlight lifestyle deterioration in a historically neglected population, some limitations should be raised. First, the inherent limitations of the online survey method, such as non-representativeness and the volunteer effect, ²⁹29. Eysenbach G. Improving the quality of Web surveys: the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES). J Med Internet Res. 2004;6(3):e34. doi:10.2196/jmir.6.3.e34
https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.6.3.e34... excluding the most vulnerable population that also does not have access to the internet. Thus, selection bias cannot be ruled out and therefore the results of the study cannot be generalized to the entire LGBT+ population. Second, the response rate was not evaluated, since the software used did not allow this, in addition to duplicated information, given that it was an anonymous survey. Third, no weights were used for possible statistical corrections to increase the representativeness of the target population, since there was a large concentration of respondents in the Southeast region. Fourth, the cross-sectional nature of the survey did not allow the direction of the associations found to be known. And finally, all outcomes were measured based on self-reporting, which may be influenced by other mental factors not included in the research, besides being subject to individual perception and information bias.

In conclusion, the results reinforce that individuals identified as belonging to the LGBT+ group showed vulnerability, regarding lifestyle deterioration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Standing out among the factors associated with lifestyle deterioration were (i) individuals who adhered to wearing masks, (ii) those with a chronic health condition, and (iii) cisgender females. These results suggest that the prolongation of the pandemic and social distancing measures may impact the rate of health deterioration among the LGBT+ population.

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