Mean annual cost in drugs for the treatment of osteoarticular diseases over 65 year-old outpatients

Influence in the regular practice of physical exercise

Abstract

Objective. To analyze the influence of regular exercise on the consumption of drugs prescribed for osteoarticular diseases in the over 65-year-olds.

Method. A retrospective, case-control study, with 4 years of monitoring, 1 control per year, n = 50 (age: 69.90 ± 4.01 and body mass index (BMI) 28.04 ± 1.23 kg/m2), control group (group C) (n = 25) sedentary (age: 70.08 ± 4.27 and BMI 29.01 ± 1.26 kg/m2) and exercise group (group E) (n = 25) active (age: 69.72 ± 3.81 and BMI 26.93 ± 1.18 kg/m2).

Results. The number of drugs consumed per day increased gradually in group C (p < 0.005) but not in group E (p = 0.076). Treatment cost increased in group C (p < 0.05) but not in group E (p > 0.05). Comparison between the costs of medicines for both groups was significant in all controls except for the first (p = 0.117). Consumption of medicines for osteoporosis increased in group C (p = 0.008), antirheumatics (p = 0.001) and analgesics + non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (p = 0.001), and did not increase in group E (osteoporosis drug p = 0.072, antirheumatic p = 0.392 and analgesics + NSAIDs (p = 0.128). The consumption cost of osteoporosis drugs increased in group C (p < 0.05) and did not increase in E (p > 0.05), as with antirheumatic drugs. Consumption of analgesics + NSAIDs in group C increased (p < 0.05) while it remained stable in group E in the second and third controls (p > 0.05) and decreased in the fourth (p < 0.05).

Conclusions. Regular exercise might moderate the increase in drug consumption for the treatment of osteoarticular diseases in the over 65-year-olds.