Expenditures of medicine use in hypertensive/diabetic elderly and physical activity and engagement in walking: cross secctional analysis of SABE Survey

BACKGROUND: The literature shows the inverse association between physical activity level (PAL) and chronic diseases that have a significant burden over health care costs. However, in upper-middle income countries and in elderly population this information are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To describe the annual drug expenditures for the hypertensive and diabetic elderly population in Brazil and to analyze the association with PAL and engagement in walking. METHODS: This cross sectional study is part of SABE Survey and comprised 806 hypertensive and/or diabetic elderly (≥60 years old). The annual expenditures of medicine use was estimated for all medications for hypertension and/or diabetes they were taking. The PAL was considered insufficient when moderate physical activity was <150 min/week or vigorous physical activity was < 75 min/week. Engagement in walking was considered by at least 1 day a week. All expenditures were presented through the descriptive values (in American Dollars US$) according PAL and engagement in walking. The association analysis between annual expenditures, PAL and engagement in walking were performed by multiple logistic regression models adjusted for gender, age and body mass index. RESULTS: The average annual cost was higher in diabetic and insufficient physically activity elderly. The 1-year estimated.cost was US$ 73386,09 and 295% higher in insufficiently physically active. Older people who reported not walking had a higher risk to higher annual expenditures of medicine use (OR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.03–2.40). CONCLUSIONS: The annual expenditures of medicine use for controlling hypertension and diabetes of Brazilian elderly were higher and inversely associated with physical activity level and engagement in walking.