Cost-Effectiveness of Exercise-based Fall Prevention Programs - the evidence is in

Posted Le 4 octobre 2019

 

Dosage for cost-effective exercise-based falls prevention programs for older people: A systematic review of economic evaluations. Winser SJ, et al. (2019). Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine , 1-12. Abstract at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31306811

It's worth a read of this systematic review that received strong ratings in Health Evidence. It offers a rare focus on how much exercise, frequency and time period of tailored exercise program will prevent falls AND be cost effective. Bonus - four of the 12 programs studied were Canadian!

  As the authors noted, putting a financial lens on such programs can have a wide-reaching effect:  

"if these programs are found to essentially pay for themselves or even have a positive financial impact ... this would help motivate policymakers concerned about health care costs to develop policies that would result in more older individuals participating in such programs."

The systematic review concludes that there is solid evidence that tailored exercise-based programs twice a week for 6 months are a cost-effective 'treatment' to prevent falls. 

Now if we could only get decision makers to pay attention.

What do you think of this review article?