Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in Australia. Direct healthcare costs of CHD exceed those of any
other disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the direct healthcare cost savings resulting from walking interventions
to prevent CHD in Australia. A meta-analysis was performed to quantify the efficacy of walking interventions in preventing
CHD. The etiologic fraction and other mathematical models were applied to quantify the cost savings resulting from walking
interventions to prevent CHD. The net direct healthcare cost savings in CHD prevention resulting from 30 min of normal walking
a day for 5–7 days a week by the sufficient walking population were estimated at AU126.73 million in 2004. The cost savings could increase to126.73 million in 2004. The cost savings
could increase to 419.90 million if all the inactive adult Australians engaged in 1 h of normal walking a day for 5–7 days
a week. Given its low injury risk and high adherence, walking should be advocated as a key population-based primary intervention
strategy for CHD prevention and healthcare cost reduction.
Keywords Coronary heart disease - Cost savings - Healthcare cost - Physical activity - Walking - Meta-analysis
JEL Classification I18