Physical Activity and Healthcare Costs in Type 2 Diabetes
Author Information
Author(s): Codogno Jamile S, Fernandes Rômulo A, Sarti Flávia M, Freitas Júnior Ismael F, Monteiro Henrique L
Primary Institution: UNESP Univ Estadual Paulista, Brazil
Hypothesis
Higher physical activity decreases healthcare costs for type 2 diabetes treatment.
Conclusion
Type 2 diabetics with higher enrollment in physical activity presented consistently lower healthcare expenditures for the public healthcare system.
Supporting Evidence
- Physically active diabetics were 81% less likely to have high healthcare expenditures for other diseases.
- Insulin use significantly increased healthcare costs.
- Age and body mass index were positively related to medication expenditures.
Takeaway
If people with diabetes exercise more, they spend less money on healthcare.
Methodology
Cross-sectional study evaluating 121 type 2 diabetics in Brazil, assessing physical activity and healthcare expenditures.
Limitations
The cross-sectional design limits causality conclusions, and only preventive medicine expenditures were calculated.
Participant Demographics
Mean age was 60.1 years, with a majority being white individuals.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.007 for physical activity and healthcare expenditures.
Confidence Interval
95%CI = 4.51 - 4.94 for physical activity score.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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