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University of Iowa Researchers Advocate for Routine Screening of Physical Activity in Patients
A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Iowa reveals that regular physical activity significantly reduces the risk of 19 chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory conditions, and diabetes. The findings of the study suggest that all patients should be routinely surveyed about their physical activity levels, an effort that could identify individuals at greater risk for chronic health conditions.
The study, titled “Screening Patients for Physical Inactivity Helps Identify Patients at Risk for Cardiometabolic and Chronic Diseases,” was led by Lucas Carr, associate professor in the Department of Health and Human Physiology at the University of Iowa. The research analyzed responses from over 7,000 patients at the University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center, who were asked to report their weekly physical activity levels via a questionnaire.
The results indicate that those patients who engaged in moderate to vigorous exercise for at least 150 minutes per week were at a statistically significant lower risk of developing 19 chronic diseases. In contrast, patients who reported little to no physical activity faced higher risks for a range of health problems. The study underscores the importance of integrating physical activity screenings into healthcare routines, as a proactive measure for identifying at-risk individuals.
In light of these findings, the researchers are recommending that healthcare systems not only ask patients about their physical activity levels but also provide information on health and wellness services tailored to individuals who are least active. This could include offering resources like exercise prescriptions or connecting patients with community health specialists to help them incorporate more physical activity into their routines.
“There’s currently no easy pathway for doctors to be reimbursed for helping patients become more physically active,” said Carr, the study’s corresponding author. “For patients who report insufficient activity, we need more options to connect them with the right services to improve their health.”
Surprisingly, most hospitals in the United States do not routinely ask patients about their physical activity levels, and no hospital system in the Midwest has done so until now. The study was conducted in collaboration with Britt Marcussen, a family medicine physician at UI Health Care, who helped administer the Exercise Vital Sign survey to patients during their annual wellness exams. The study, which ran from November 2017 to December 2022, used a simple two-question survey to assess physical activity: “On average, how many days per week do you engage in moderate to vigorous exercise?” and “On average, how many minutes do you engage in exercise at this level?”
Carr and his team argue that this brief survey, which typically takes less than 30 seconds to complete, could be incorporated into every patient visit. By doing so, doctors can gather valuable information about a patient’s overall health without disrupting the flow of the appointment.
In a related study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, Carr’s team explored the issue of insurance reimbursement for exercise counseling services. They found that when healthcare providers billed for exercise counseling, insurance companies reimbursed nearly 95% of those claims. This highlights the potential for integrating physical activity assessments and counseling into healthcare practice, further supporting the idea that regular physical activity plays a critical role in preventing chronic diseases.
Despite the positive implications, the researchers acknowledge that there are challenges to implementing physical activity screenings universally. “Most patients who engage in annual wellness exams are likely already more health-conscious, so their behavior might not fully reflect the broader population,” said Carr. Nevertheless, they believe that making physical activity a standard part of patient care could help reduce the burden of chronic diseases in the long term.
The study calls for further efforts to create a pathway for healthcare providers to support patients in leading more active lives, ensuring that more people can take advantage of the significant health benefits of physical activity.
