Women’s physical activity as a determinant of health care expenditures

Abstrakt

Physical activity is considered to be an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Although physical activity is only one of the components of a healthy lifestyle, lack of physical activity is strongly linked to the incidence of chronic diseases. The paper deals with the problem of the relationship between physical activity (including professional sports activities) and women’s subjective state of health. We have assumed that the better state of health should be reflected in frequency and structure of use of health benefits, and, as a result – costs of health care. We have posed three research hypotheses:

H1: physical activity extends life expectancy in good health;

H2: physically active women are less likely to use health services;

H3: physically active women generate lower costs in the health system.

We surveyed 400 women of 40–60 years of age. The questions included: sport activity present and in the past, self-assessment of the state of health, healthcare services utilization and out-of-pocket spendings.

In the next step we conducted an analysis of correlation between sport activity and healthcare use and expenditures. We have found out that contrary to our expectations physically active women are more frequent users of the second level (specialised care) of the healthcare sector.

MeSH: Fees and Charges, Social Determinants of Health, Women’s Health, sports, Life Expectancy.