Comparison of medical care expenditure between participants and non-participants of exercise class for middle-aged and elderly women

Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to compare and verify the medical care expenditure of participants and non-participants of exercise classes for middle-aged and elderly women.Methods This study compares and analyzes the medical care expenditure of two groups. The total amount of outpatient treatment, pharmacies, and hospitalization expenditures will be referred to as medical care expenditure. The participating and control groups were 6,576 women aged between 60 and 69 years with a 4-year insurance by the National Health Insurance. The participating group composed 416 women who participated in the exercise class for 2 years and whose hospitalization and outpatient treatment expenditures for 1 year before the exercise class were 0 yen and <500,000 yen, respectively. The control group were matched with the participating group for 1:1 in age and medical care expenditure. Wilcoxon's signed rank test was used to compare the medical costs of the groups. The significance level was set at <5%.Result In comparing the medical care expenditure between years, both groups had increased medical care expenditure and there was no significant difference in the medical care expenditure between the groups within each year; however, the increased medical care expenditure was lower in the participating group than that in the control group. The outpatient treatment and pharmacies expenditures for aged <65 years who participated in ≥15 exercise classes in both years was significantly lower for the participating group compared to that of the control group of the same age group. The hospitalization expenditure was significantly lower in the participating group for all age groups and aged <65 years group after participating in exercise classes.Conclusion Women who continually participate in exercise classes could further reduce their medical care expenditure, especially for those aged ≤65 years.