Impact of physical activity on healthcare costs: a systematic review

Abstract

Background This systematic review aims to describe the relation between physical inactivity and healthcare costs, by taking into account healthcare costs of physical-inactivity-related diseases (common practice), including physical-activity-related injuries (new) and costs in life-years gained due to avoiding diseases (new), whenever available. Moreover, the association between physical inactivity and healthcare costs may both be negatively and positively impacted by increased physical activity. Methods A systematic review was conducted, including records reporting on physical (in)activity in relation to healthcare costs for a general population. Studies were required to report sufficient information to calculate the percentage of total healthcare costs potentially attributable to physical inactivity. Results Of the 264 records identified, 25 were included in this review. Included studies showed substantial variation in the assessment methods of physical activity and in type of costs included. Overall, studies showed that physical inactivity is related to higher healthcare costs. Only one study included costs of healthcare resources used in prolonged life when physical-inactivity-related diseases were averted, showing net higher healthcare costs. No study included healthcare costs for physical-activity-related injuries. Conclusions Physical inactivity is associated with higher healthcare costs in the general population in the short-term. However, in the long-term aversion of diseases related with physical inactivity may increase longevity and, as a consequence, healthcare costs in life-years gained. Future studies should use a broad definition of costs, including costs in life-years gained and costs related to physical-activity-related injuries.

The Wearable Activity Tracker Checklist for Healthcare (WATCH): a 12-point guide for the implementation of wearable activity trackers in healthcare

“…Higher levels of physical activity during hospitalisation are associated with faster recovery [ 2 – 4 ], shorter length of hospital stay [ 2 , 3 ], lower risk of early readmission [ 5 ], and lower rates of adverse events [ 4 ]. Low levels of lifestyle physical activity, are also correlated with increased rates of hospitalisation [ 6 , 7 ], and higher overall healthcare costs [ 8 ]. Despite the overwhelming evidence supporting the benefits of physical activity for clinical populations [ 9 ], it remains under-promoted and under-prioritised in healthcare settings [ 10 – 12 ].…”

Impact of cycling and walking on adiposity and healthcare costs among adults: longitudinal study

“…Regarding this domain, walking and cycling are important manifestations of physical exercise among adults 7 , being potential behaviors to prevent chronic diseases and hence mitigate health costs. However, in developing nations, not much is known about the economic burden of walking and cycling 8 , 9 .…”

“…Moreover, most data describing the association of walking and cycling with economic aspects are based on cross-sectional surveys and carried out in developed settings 8 , 9 , leading to technical questions about its application in developing nations. Such issue seems even more relevant in the Brazilian scenario, in which healthcare assistance is financed by public fundings (at all levels of complexity).…”

Exercise Prescription: Pioneering the “Third Pole” for Clinical Health Management

“…Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive brain disorder that leads to a gradual loss of memory/thinking/language skills, was reported to be considerably prevented by long-term regular exercise [ 5 , 6 ]. Recently, an economic cost analysis in the UK on exercise intervention for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease showcased that regular physical activity could save patients up to £200 monthly by reducing mortality [ 7 ] and hospitalization rates, while exercise was reported to reduce the health care costs by 9.0% to 26.6% around the world [ 8 ]. In the context of cancer treatment, our team recently revealed that exercise can metamorphose the immunological microenvironment of non-small-cell lung cancer, transitioning it from “cold” to “hot”, which suggested that exercise increases the number of immune cells such as CD8 + T cells, M1 macrophages, etc.…”