The relationship between health risks and health and productivity costs among employees at Pepsi Bottling Group.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate relationships between modifiable health risks and costs and measure potential cost savings from risk reduction programs.


METHODS
Health risk information from active Pepsi Bottling Group employees who completed health risk assessments between 2004 and 2006 (N = 11,217) were linked to medical care, workers' compensation, and short-term disability cost data. Ten health risks were examined. Multivariate analyses were performed to estimate costs associated with having high risk, holding demographics, and other risks constant. Potential savings from risk reduction were estimated.


RESULTS
High risk for weight, blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol had the greatest impact on total costs. A one-percentage point annual reduction in the health risks assessed would yield annual per capita savings of $83.02 to $103.39.


CONCLUSIONS
Targeted programs that address modifiable health risks are expected to produce substantial cost reductions in multiple benefit categories.
Henke
Rachel M
RM
Thomson Reuters, Washington DC 20008, USA.
Carls
Ginger S
GS
Short
Meghan E
ME
Pei
Xiaofei
X
Wang
Shaohung
S
Moley
Susan
S
Sullivan
Mark
M
Goetzel
Ron Z
RZ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002253:Carbonated Beverages; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D055815:Young Adult