Il contributo dell'attività motoria nella razionalizzazione della spesa sanitaria. Un'analisi della letteratura riferita ai pazienti cardiopatici

The main goal of any health care organization is to maximize patients’ health status. However, the issue related to the optimal allocation of scarce resources highlights the need to undertake choices among the available alternatives. In the medical field, physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor, counting the 6% of global mortality. Moreover, physical inactivity is associated to several diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. In particular, costs related to a sedentary lifestyle have a massive impact on health expenditure. Therefore, the need to develop large- scale intervention programs has arisen. Through a systematic literature review, this paper aims at highlighting both the role of physical activity in the rationalization of health expenditure, and its impact on the wellbeing of cardiac patients. It will be particularly emphasized the role of economic valuation methodologies and public policies aimed to increase physical activity levels in the population.