PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY FOR THE OVER-65S - COULD IT BE A COST-EFFECTIVE EXERCISE FOR THE NHS

Background There is increasing interest in the health-promoting potent ial of physical activity in older adults. The objective of this study was to estimate the likely costs, health benefits and consequences for the National Health Service which might result from a publicly funded programme of regular exercise made available to a population of 10 00 0 people over the age of 65. Methods Risk reduction data from observat ional studies were used to calculate the possible impact of a communit y-based programme of activity on hospital admissions and deaths from c oronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, femoral neck fractures and me ntal disorders. The avoided costs of health care and net cost per life -year saved were estimated. Results Providing twice-weekly exercise cl asses for 10000 participants would cost approximately pound 854700 per year, but would prevent 76 deaths and 230 in-patient episodes, avoidi ng annual health care costs of approximately pound 601 000. Assuming t he mean expectation of life after 65 to be ten years, the programme wo uld cost about pound 330 per life-year saved. Under a range of more ex treme assumptions, the cost per life-year saved would vary from pound 100 to pound 1500, Conclusions A publicly funded programme of regular moderate exercise for over-65-year-olds could achieve important health benefits at relatively low cost, The estimates provided by this analy sis should now be tested in a rigorous randomized trial, and health co mmissioners should begin to think of purchasing exercise programmes al ongside other health-promoting measures.