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Association Between Exercise Frequency and Health Care Costs Among Employees at a Large University and Academic Medical Center.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Caretto, DC; Ostbye, T; Stroo, M; Darcey, DJ; Dement, J
Published in: J Occup Environ Med
December 2016

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between exercise frequency and health care costs associated with medical and pharmacy claims among a 10-year employee cohort. METHODS: The relationship between self-reported exercise (days/week) and health care costs was analyzed with negative binomial regression, using an integrated database involving 32,044 person-years and linking employee demographics, health risk appraisal information, and health insurance claims. RESULTS: An association demonstrating exercise frequency lowering health care costs was present in most medical and prescription drug categories and was strongest among employees reporting 2 to 3 and 4 to 5 days/week of exercise. Increased exercise was associated with statistically significant reductions in endocrine disease costs and gastrointestinal prescription drug costs. CONCLUSIONS: This cohort demonstrates lower health care costs in employee populations when exercise frequency is increased. Employers may lower modifiable risk factors for chronic disease and reduce health care costs by promoting exercise among their employee population.

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Published In

J Occup Environ Med

DOI

EISSN

1536-5948

Publication Date

December 2016

Volume

58

Issue

12

Start / End Page

1167 / 1174

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Universities
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Occupational Health
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Care Costs
  • Female
  • Exercise
  • Environmental & Occupational Health
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Caretto, D. C., Ostbye, T., Stroo, M., Darcey, D. J., & Dement, J. (2016). Association Between Exercise Frequency and Health Care Costs Among Employees at a Large University and Academic Medical Center. J Occup Environ Med, 58(12), 1167–1174. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000000882
Caretto, David C., Truls Ostbye, Marissa Stroo, Dennis J. Darcey, and John Dement. “Association Between Exercise Frequency and Health Care Costs Among Employees at a Large University and Academic Medical Center.J Occup Environ Med 58, no. 12 (December 2016): 1167–74. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000000882.
Caretto DC, Ostbye T, Stroo M, Darcey DJ, Dement J. Association Between Exercise Frequency and Health Care Costs Among Employees at a Large University and Academic Medical Center. J Occup Environ Med. 2016 Dec;58(12):1167–74.
Caretto, David C., et al. “Association Between Exercise Frequency and Health Care Costs Among Employees at a Large University and Academic Medical Center.J Occup Environ Med, vol. 58, no. 12, Dec. 2016, pp. 1167–74. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000000882.
Caretto DC, Ostbye T, Stroo M, Darcey DJ, Dement J. Association Between Exercise Frequency and Health Care Costs Among Employees at a Large University and Academic Medical Center. J Occup Environ Med. 2016 Dec;58(12):1167–1174.

Published In

J Occup Environ Med

DOI

EISSN

1536-5948

Publication Date

December 2016

Volume

58

Issue

12

Start / End Page

1167 / 1174

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Universities
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Occupational Health
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Care Costs
  • Female
  • Exercise
  • Environmental & Occupational Health