Health Fairs May Save Lives, Prevent Costly Hospital Stays Among Rural Elderly

Community health fairs may be a cost-effective method for preventing cardiovascular disease in elderly, rural populations, according to a Texas Medical Association study.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death for the nation's senior population. Community health fairs that offer screening for cholesterol, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes may boost efforts by primary care physicians to identify cardiovascular risk factors and educate patients about how to reduce their risk for the disease.

The study used a community health fair model designed to promote wellness and independence, prevent further health deterioration, and reduce the fragmentation of health services, according to the article. The study tracked 44 elderly patients of a primary care practice in a rural Texas community who attended two complimentary health fairs. Forty-four percent of the patients had not had a medical checkup in the past year and 15 percent had never had an examination.

The screenings detected a large number of risk factors in the patients studied. More than half of the female patients were considered obese, while nearly 20 percent of the male patients were obese. Fifty-nine percent of the patients had high blood pressure and 63 percent suffered from high cholesterol. One in five had never controlled their blood pressure and more than half of the patients did not perform any type of regular, vigorous exercise.

Researchers noted that although a primary care physician is available in the town, elderly patients frequently miss appointments with their physicians and do not take prescribed medications, either because of prohibitive costs or lack of understanding.

The complimentary health fair identified cardiovascular risk factors in a large number of people who are not accustomed to receiving regular medical checkups. It also provided medical professionals with an opportunity to educate these patients about the need to monitor and control obesity, blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes, which lead to cardiovascular disease.

In addition, the relatively low cost of hosting such a health fair should make it an attractive option for health insurers and government health agencies, particularly given the potential decrease in hospital costs, the authors of the study says. Secondary and tertiary prevention has been estimated to prevent at least one hospitalization for high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke, resulting in savings of almost five times the cost of hosting a health fair.

Free or low cost health fairs that screen for cardiovascular risk factors may be an attractive option for cash-strapped seniors, as well as the health system that supports them.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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