The relationship between physical activity and out-of-pocket health care costs of the elderly in Europe

Increasing health care costs represent an economic burden placed on individuals across many European countries. Against this backdrop, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between participation in physical activity and out-of-pocket health care costs in Europe.

Individual data from the cross-national Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement (n = 94 267) including 16 European countries were utilized. Two-part models were estimated to investigate how different levels of participation frequency in physical activity are related to out-of-pocket costs (OOPC) for people aged 50 years and older.

Only participation in physical activity more than once a week significantly decreases the probability of incurring any OOPC. However, all frequencies of physical activity significantly reduce the level of costs, with the highest savings being generated by participation once a week. The results reveal higher savings for men compared to women.

Physical activity can be a useful policy instrument to reduce the economic burden of out-of-pocket health care costs for an aging population in Europe. Public officials should primarily promote physical activity interventions targeting older people who are not active at all.