Does Gerofit Exercise Reduce Veterans' Use of Emergency Department and Inpatient Care?. (16th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abbate, Lauren; Li, Jiejin; Veazie, Peter; Intrator, Orna; Lee, Cathy; Katzel, Leslie; Pearson, Megan; Morey, Miriam
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 4(2020)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 771
• Page End: 771
• Publication Date: 2020-12-16
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2786
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: Little is known about the relationship between exercise and health care utilization in older adults. This study examined hospitalizations/emergency Department (ED) visits in the 12 months prior to and during 12 months of active Gerofit participation (across 5 sites). Data were compared for each outcome to a propensity matched nearest neighbor sample from the same site [Mean, 95% CI]. Of the 226 Veterans who were active in the program for ≥12 months and enrolled in VA and Traditional Medicare for 12 months prior to Gerofit participation, hospitalizations/ED visits were greater prior to (15.3%/42.0%) than during (6.8%/37.1%) Gerofit participation. Gerofit participants were 8% less likely to have a hospitalization in the 12 months following enrollment than controls [-0.08 (-0.14, -0.02)] but no between-group differences in ED use [-0.00 (-0.11, 0.10)] were observed. Participation in Gerofit may reduce hospitalizations, but its impact on ED use is inconclusive.