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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Diarmuid CoughlanORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Background: There is limited information about the association between long-term leisure time physical activity (LTPA) participation and healthcare costs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between LTPA over adulthood with later life healthcare costs in the USA.Methods: Using Medicare claims data (between 1999 and 2008) linked to the National Institutes of Health-American Association of Retired Persons (NIH-AARP) Diet and Health Study, we examined associations between nine trajectories of physical activity participation throughout adulthood with Medicare costs.Results: Compared with adults who were consistently inactive from adolescence into middle age, average annual healthcare costs were significantly lower for maintainers, adults who maintained moderate (-US$1350 (95% CI: -US$2009 to -US$690) or -15.9% (95% CI: -23.6% to -8.1%)) or high physical activity levels (-US$1200 (95% CI: -US$1777 to -US$622) or -14.1% (95% CI: -20.9% to -7.3%)) and increasers, adults who increased physical activity levels in early adulthood (-US$1874 (95% CI: US$2691 to -US$1057) or -22.0% (95% CI: -31.6% to -12.4%)) or in middle age (-US$824 (95% CI: -US$1580 to -US$69 or -9.7% (95% CI -18.6% to -0.8%)). For the four trajectories where physical activity decreased, the only significant difference was for adults who increased physical activity levels during early adulthood with a decline in middle age (-US$861 (95% CI:-US$1678 to -US$45) or -10.1% (95% CI: -19.7% to -0.5%)).Conclusion: Our analyses suggest the healthcare cost burden in later life could be reduced through promotion efforts supporting physical activity participation throughout adulthood.
Author(s): Coughlan D, Saint-Maurice PF, Carlson SA, Fulton J, Matthews CE
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine
Year: 2021
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
Print publication date: 05/03/2021
Online publication date: 05/03/2021
Acceptance date: 15/02/2021
Date deposited: 25/10/2021
ISSN (electronic): 2055-7647
Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
URL: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2021-001038
DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2021-001038
PubMed id: 33768963
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