Cost-effectiveness of a primary care-based exercise intervention in perimenopausal women. The FLAMENCO Project

Abstract

Adequate physical activity levels and a healthy lifestyle may prevent all kinds of non-communicable diseases, promote well-being and reduce health-care costs among perimenopausal women. This study assessed an exercise programme for perimenopausal women. Mean QALYs over 16 weeks were.228 in the control group and.230 in the intervention group (mean difference: .002; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: −0.005 to 0.009). Improvements from baseline were greater in the intervention group in all dimensions of the EuroQol-5D-5L but not statistically significant. The total costs at the end of the intervention were 160.38 € in the control group and 167.80 € in the intervention group (mean difference: 7.42 € ; 95%CI: −47 to 62). The exercise programme had anincremental cost-effectiveness ratio of 4,686 € /QALY. The programme could be considered cost-effective, although the overall difference in health benefits and costs was very modest. Longer term follow-up is needed.