Saad Marcelo, Medeiros Roberta de
Universidade de Santo Amaro (Unisa), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Centro Universitário São Camilo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2017 Oct;63(10):837-841. doi: 10.1590/1806-9282.63.10.837.
A growing body of scientific studies has demonstrated a consistently positive association between religious-spiritual (R/S) involvement and beneficial effects on physical health, culminating with increased longevity. This protective effect on the mortality risk is not only statistically significant but also clinically relevant. The mechanisms involved in this association include psycho-neuro-endocrine-immune pathways, greater adherence to healthy behaviors and diverse social factors. Public health strategies could better explore this association. This can be done on an individual (health professionals adopting simple measures) or institutional scale (health institutions joining religious organizations). Some evidence suggests that the benefits of R/S to health and longevity would be more present in populations from more religious regions. In this sense, the Americas (Latin and North) are privileged places for the exploration of this association, compared to regions where there is certain indifference about R/S practices. Exploring this interface can improve the supply and usage of health care, especially for marginalized populations. To achieve this, health professionals, religious leaders and policy makers need to work together.
越来越多的科学研究表明，宗教-精神（R/S）参与度与对身体健康的有益影响之间始终存在着积极的关联，最终表现为寿命延长。这种对死亡风险的保护作用不仅在统计学上具有显著意义，而且在临床上也具有相关性。这种关联所涉及的机制包括心理-神经-内分泌-免疫途径、对健康行为的更强依从性以及多种社会因素。公共卫生策略可以更好地探索这种关联。这可以在个体层面（健康专业人员采取简单措施）或机构层面（卫生机构与宗教组织合作）来实现。一些证据表明，R/S对健康和长寿的益处可能在宗教氛围更浓厚地区的人群中更为明显。从这个意义上说，与那些对R/S活动存在一定冷漠态度的地区相比，美洲（拉丁美洲和北美洲）是探索这种关联的得天独厚的地方。探索这种交叉领域可以改善医疗保健的提供和使用情况，尤其是对边缘化人群而言。要实现这一点，健康专业人员、宗教领袖和政策制定者需要共同努力。
