The number of workers over 50 has increased, which creates a need to understand the impact that the extension of working life can have on health, ability to work, and well-being. In addition, we must consider that the isolation caused by the period of the COVID-19 Pandemic may have been a negative factor for the physical and emotional functions of these older adults, resulting in time off work.

To describe the profile of older adults active at work during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

We analyzed data from the REMOBILIZE study, which involved a cohort study of older adults (60 years or older) living in 22 states in Brazil, during the COVID-19 pandemic, for an 18-month follow-up period. Data collection was performed through a questionnaire using the SurveyMonkey online platform. Participants were recruited using social networks (Facebook and Instagram) and WhatsApp. Older adults who were bedridden and who lived in long-term care facilities were excluded from the study. Data collection was carried out between May 18, 2020, and December 30, 2021, and for this analysis, we used only the information collected at baseline (May to July 2020).

1,482 older adults were interviewed, with an average age of 70 years, most of them female (74%), inactive regarding their occupation (56.4%), who use up to 3 medications (48.9%), the most frequent diseases being Diabetes Mellitus and Systemic Arterial Hypertension. Among the active older (36.8%), 89.7% were aged between 60 and 75 years, 64.8% were women, white (62.9%); married (61.7%), with more than nine years of study (70.1%), retired/pensioner (66.8%), taking up to 3 medications (52.3%), who reported that they were not anxious (91.4%), did not feel pain (78.7%) and had no difficulty sleeping (39.3%). Regarding the time they sat down (inside and outside the house) and walked to exercise, 32.1% reported not walking for that purpose and that they sat for an average of 4 hours or less per day. No difference was identified between the profile of the groups (general population, active and inactive); however, for those who declared themselves to be active about their occupation, a slight difference was observed in the percentage of the variables: being retired/pensioners; more anxious; walking to exercise and for a time between 30 minutes and 1 hour and reported less pain.

When observing the general profile of the older, no major differences were identified between those who declared themselves active and those who were inactive about their occupation at the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

It is necessary to understand this older worker's profile and outline preventive measures to remain active at work and preserve his quality of life and ability to work.