Physical Activity Improves Health and Reduces Medical Cost

Introduction: Understanding physical activity’s effect on medical claims cost and the amount of time required to have sustained improvements in biometric risk factors has not been widely documented.

Methods:  A three year retrospective study (n = 5,060) abstracted from a large US medical insurer was analyzed. Complex sample frequencies and logistic regression analysis were utilized to calculate prevalence estimates and odds ratios, respectively, focusing on biometrics and claims cost.

Results: Active persons had 11.7% lower medical costs than sedentary persons. Beginning a moderately active lifestyle brought about a one year reduction in medical claims costs by 42.4%. Sedentary participants were more likely to be overweight 2.1 (95%CI 1.24-3.70) and have diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 90 or above 1.3 (95%CI 0.77-2.27) than those who were active. The effect was more pronounced among women, with sedentary women being more likely to be overweight 3.7 (95%CI 0.43-3.19) and have elevated DBP 1.6 (95%CI 1.62-8.36) compared to active women.

The effect is strongest among mid-life and older adults. The sedentary population over 60 were more likely to be overweight 6.1 (95%CI 1.88-19.60), have systolic blood pressure of 120 or above 10.5 (95%CI 2.08-46.82), and DBP 5.4 (95%CI 1.81-16.02) than their active counterparts. Furthermore, sedentary 50-59 year olds are more likely to be overweight 3.3 (95%CI 1.28-8.28) than their active peers.

Conclusion: Physical activity has a beneficial impact on medical costs and is highly effective at reducing hypertension and obesity, especially for mid-life and older adults.