Higher Fitness is Associated with Lower Heath Care Costs: The Veterans Exercise Testing Study Jonathan Myers PhD, Rachelle Doom MD, Robert King MS, Holly Fonda MS, Joshua Abella MD, Khin Chan MD, Victor Froelicher MD, Peter Kokkinos PhD VA Palo Alto and Washington DC Health Care Systems Stanford University There are no relationships to disclose

Background 

Physical inactivity is associated with poor health outcomes and higher health care costs

Physical activity pattern and health care costs in the VA Health Care System 

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Activity patterns quantified among patients referred for exercise testing beginning in 1993 Recreational energy expenditure (kcals/week) quantified using modified Harvard Alumni Questionnaire Both past (adulthood) and current (last year) activity patterns assessed Costs derived from the VA Decision Support Systems Network

Log of Total Health Care Costs

4.4 4.3

10% cost difference active vs. inactive ≈ $1 reduction per kcal/week

4.3±0.07*

4.2 4.1

4±0.07 4

3.9±0.07

3.9 3.8 3.7 3.6 Active

Moderately Active

Recreational Activity Status * p