Associations between physical activity, medical costs and hospitalisations in older Australian women: Results from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health
Journal of science and medicine in sport
J Sci Med Sport. 2018 Jun;21(6):604-608. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2017.10.022. Epub 2017 Oct 23.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The aim was to examine the associations between level of physical activity (PA) and non-hospital medical costs, and between physical activity and hospitalisations in older women from 1999 to 2013.
DESIGN: Longitudinal observational study.
METHODS: Data were collected from participants in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, who completed surveys in 1999 (aged 73-78 years), 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2011. Annual cost data (from the Medicare Benefits Schedule) were available for 1999-2013 and hospital admissions data were available for 2002-2010. Costs were expressed in 2013 Australian dollars (AUD). Prospective associations between self-reported physical activity (categorised as inactive, low, moderate or high) and costs/admissions were examined using quantile regression (for costs) and logistic regression fitted with generalised estimating equations (for hospitalisation).
RESULTS: Median annual costs were AUD122 (95% confidence interval [CI]=199, 45), AUD284 (CI=363, 204) and AUD316 (CI=385, 247) lower in low, moderate and highly active women, respectively, than in those who were inactive [AUD1890 (interquartile range=1107-3296)]. Odds of hospitalisation were also lower in the low (odds ratio [OR]=0.88, CI=0.80-0.96), moderate (OR=0.77, CI=0.70-0.85) and highly active (OR=0.78, CI=0.71-0.85) women, than in the inactive group.
CONCLUSIONS: In inactive older Australian women, a small increase in physical activity may be sufficient to obtain substantial cost savings for the health system and to reduce hospital admissions.
