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Regular moderate-vigorous physical activity may lower health care costs
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Moderate-vigorous physical activity for at least 30 minutes five or more days per week by US adults with and without established CVD was associated with reductions in annual health care costs and resource utilization, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Previous research has demonstrated that regular moderate-vigorous physical activity can reduce risk for heart disease, stroke and chronic conditions such as high BP and diabetes. The new data may also “emphasize the favorable impact on how much you pay for health care,” Khurram Nasir, MD, MPH, director of the Center of Healthcare Advancement and Outcomes and the High-Risk Cardiovascular Disease Clinic at Baptist Health South Florida in Coral Gables, said in a press release.
The researchers analyzed data from the 2012 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey of 26,239 participants aged 18 years or older. Nearly half (47%) of participants reported moderate-vigorous physical activity for 30 minutes or more at least five days per week; according to the researchers, this translated to 111.5 million U.S. adults.
Nine percent of the 26,000 participants had been diagnosed with CVD. Moderate-vigorous physical activity at recommended levels was reported by 32% of participants with CVD compared with 49% without CVD. Participants with CVD had higher average health care costs, but those who regularly followed the physical activity guidelines of moderate-vigorous physical activity for longer than 30 minutes five days per week had average annual health care costs that were $2,500 lower compared with those of participants who did not follow that physical activity regimen. The researchers also evaluated participants with CV risk factors and found that those who were the healthiest (no heart disease and one or no risk factors) and exercised regularly at recommended levels had average annual health care costs that were $500 lower compared with those who did not exercise.
According to a press release, the data suggest that if 20% of patients with CVD who are not getting enough exercise change their regimen to meet recommended goals, several billion dollars in annual health care costs could be saved in the United States.
In addition, “[e]ven among an established high-risk group such as those diagnosed with heart disease or stroke, those who engaged in regular exercise activities reported a much lower risk of being hospitalized, [having] an emergency room visit and use of prescription medications,” Nasir said. “The message to the patient is clear: There is no better pill in reducing the risk of disease and healthcare costs than optimizing physical activity.” – by Dave Quaile
Disclosure: Nasir is on the advisory board for Quest Diagnostic and is a consultant for Regeneron.
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