The Public Health Burden of Physical Inactivity in Canada

1
The Public Health Burden of Physical Inactivity
in Canada

• Peter T. Katzmarzyk, PhD
• School of Kinesiology and Health Science
• York University

2
Prevalence of Risk Factors Among Canadian Adults
3
Physical Activity and Health Status 1998
National Population Health Survey
Men
Women
Poor
Poor
Good
Good
Very Good
Very Good
Excellent
Excellent
Health Status
Katzmarzyk, Med Sci Sports Exerc (Submitted).
4
Annual Direct Medical Costs of Physical
Inactivity United States
No Physical Limitations
Physical Limitations
All Subjects
Pratt et al. Physician Sports Med 20002863-70.
5
Projected U.S. Hospital Admissions in 20 years
Smoking 8.9 reduction Physical Inactivity
4.6 reduction
Allowing for a 10-year lag in health benefits
Russell et al. Am J Prev Med 20012026-34.
6
Major Physical Activity-Related Diseases

• Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
• Stroke
• Hypertension
• Colon Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Osteoporosis

7
Relative Risks and Population Attributable Risks
for Physical Inactivity

• Disease RR PAR ()
• CHD 1.9 36
• Stroke 1.4 20
• Hypertension 1.4 20
• Colon Cancer 1.4 20
• Breast Cancer 1.2 11
• Type 2 Diabetes 1.4 20
• Osteoporosis 1.6 27

Katzmarzyk et al. CMAJ 200063435-1440
8
Economic Costs of Physical Inactivity
Cost Due To Disease Cost
Inactivity CHD 2.5 0.9 Stroke
1.7 0.3 Hypertension 1.6 0.3 Colon
Cancer 0.3 0.07 Breast Cancer
0.3 0.03 Type 2 Diabetes 0.6 0.1 Osteoporosi
s 1.3 0.4 TOTAL 2.1 Figures are
billions.
Katzmarzyk et al. CMAJ 200063435-1440
9
Physical Inactivity-Related Mortality

• N Deaths
• Disease N Deaths Due to Inactivity
• CHD 44 061 15 774
• Stroke 15 517 3 088
• Colon Cancer 4 237 843
• Breast Cancer 4 923 542
• Diabetes 5 492 1 093
• All Causes 207 408 21 340 (10.3)

Katzmarzyk et al. CMAJ 200063435-1440
10
10 Change in Inactivity

• Reducing levels of physical inactivity from 62
  to 56 would result in 150 million a year in
  savings

Katzmarzyk et al. CMAJ 200063435-1440
11

• The cost estimates are direct costs
• hospital services
• physician care
• drugs
• health research
• The indirect costs are larger
• time off work
• loss of productivity

12
Summary of Burden of Physical Inactivity

• 2.1 billion, or 2.5 of total direct health care
  costs are attributable to physical inactivity
• physical inactivity is responsible for 21
  000 premature deaths a year
• a reduction in physical inactivity of 10 would
  result in 150 million in savings a year

13
Conclusions

• Physical inactivity is a substantial public
  health burden in Canada
• The surveillance of physical activity patterns
  remains a public health priority
• Aggressive public health campaigns against
  physical inactivity are warranted
• Governments need to create and appropriately
  resource public policies that will encourage
  systemic change and stem the growth of physical
  inactivity at all ages