Guijing Wang

Higher direct medical costs associated with physical inactivity.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The benefits of physical activity in reducing morbidity and mortality are well-established, but the effect of physical inactivity on direct medical costs is less clear. OBJECTIVE: To describe the direct medical expenditures associated with physical inactivity. DESIGN: Cross-sectional stratified analysis of the 1987 National Medical Expenditures Survey that included US civilian men and nonpregnant women aged 15 and older who were not in institutions in 1987. Main outcome measure was direct medical costs. RESULTS: For those 15 and older without physical limitations, the average annual direct medical costs were

The cost of physical inactivity: moving into the 21st century

1,019 for those who were regularly physically active and

A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Physical Activity Using Bike/Pedestrian Trails

1,349 for those who reported being inactive. The costs were lower for active persons among smokers (

Economic burden of cardiovascular disease associated with excess body weight in U.S. adults.

1,079 vs

Do Health Benefits Outweigh the Costs of Mass Recreational Programs? An Economic Analysis of Four Ciclovía Programs

1,448) and nonsmokers (

Inactivity-associated Medical costs among US adults with arthritis

953 vs

Cost Analysis of the Built Environment: The Case of Bike and Pedestrian Trials in Lincoln, Neb

1,234) and were consistent across age-groups and by sex. Medical care use (hospitalizations, physician visits, and medications) was also lower for physically active people than for inactive people. CONCLUSION: The mean net annual benefit of physical activity was

Hospital Costs Associated With Atrial Fibrillation for Patients With Ischemic Stroke Aged 18–64 Years in the United States

330 per person in 1987 dollars. Our results suggest that increasing participation in regular moderate physical activity among the more than 88 million inactive Americans over the age of 15 might reduce annual national medical costs by as much as

Costs of Hospitalizations with a Primary Diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction Among Patients Aged 18-64 Years in the United States

29.2 billion in 1987 dollars—

Inpatient Costs Associated with Ischemic Heart Disease Among Adults Aged 18-64 Years in the United States

76.6 billion in 2000 dollars.