Cost analysis of an exercise program for older women with respect to social welfare and healthcare costs: a pilot study.
The aim of this study was to analyze social welfare and healthcare costs and fall-related healthcare costs after a group-based exercise program. The 10-week exercise program, which started after discharge from the hospital, was designed to improve physical fitness, mood, and functional abilities in frail elderly women. Sixty-eight acutely hospitalized and mobility-impaired women (mean age 83.0, SD 3.9 years) were randomized into either group-based (intervention) or home exercise (control) groups. Information on costs was collected during 1 year after hospital discharge. There were no differences between the intervention and control groups in the mean individual healthcare costs: 4381 euros (SD 3829 euros) vs 3539 euros (SD 3967 euros), P=0.477, in the social welfare costs: 3336 euros (SD 4418 euros) vs 4073 euros (SD 5973 euros), P=0.770, or in the fall-related healthcare costs: 996 euros (SD 2612 euros) vs 306 euros (SD 915), P=0.314, respectively. This exercise intervention, which has earlier proved to be effective in improving physical fitness and mood, did not result in any financial savings in municipal costs. These results serve as a pilot study and further studies are needed to establish the cost-effectiveness of this exercise intervention for elderly people.
Timonen
L
L
Health Center of the City of Joensuu, Joensuu, Finland. leena.timonen@fimnet.fi
Rantanen
T
T
Mäkinen
E
E
Timonen
T E
TE
Törmäkangas
T
T
Sulkava
R
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000191:economics*; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000191:economics*