Does Gerofit Exercise Reduce Veterans’ Use of Emergency Department and Inpatient Care?

Little is known about the relationship between exercise and health care utilization in older adults. This study examined hospitalizations/emergency Department (ED) visits in the 12 months prior to and during 12 months of active Gerofit participation (across 5 sites). Data were compared for each outcome to a propensity matched nearest neighbor sample from the same site [Mean, 95% CI]. Of the 226 Veterans who were active in the program for ≥12 months and enrolled in VA and Traditional Medicare for 12 months prior to Gerofit participation, hospitalizations/ED visits were greater prior to (15.3%/42.0%) than during (6.8%/37.1%) Gerofit participation. Gerofit participants were 8% less likely to have a hospitalization in the 12 months following enrollment than controls [-0.08 (-0.14, -0.02)] but no between-group differences in ED use [-0.00 (-0.11, 0.10)] were observed. Participation in Gerofit may reduce hospitalizations, but its impact on ED use is inconclusive.