A randomised controlled trial (RCT) of the cost-effectiveness of exercise in the over 65s

INTERVENTION: The intervention was defined pragmatically as invitation to a locally organised, free and regular programme of exercise classes. Each class was arranged to run weekly, at the same time and place each week, and usually led by the same exercise leader. In any week there would typically be four or five different classes available, run from two or three venues, and participants were encouraged to aim to attend at least two classes per week. Most classes were held in church halls, community centres and less frequently in residential homes. Control participants were not invited to partake in the exercise classes. CONDITION: Cardiovascular diseases: Cerebrovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases: Heart disease; Injury, occupational diseases, poisoning: Musculoskeletal injury; Mental and behavioural disorders: Depression, anxiety, neuroses; Nutritional, metabolic and endocrine diseases: Diabetes ; Not Applicable ; Exercise and health PRIMARY OUTCOME: The major study outcomes were all‐cause and exercise‐related mortality, health service use, and health status. Mortality and health service use were assessed using routine NHS data. Health status was assessed by means of postal survey at baseline, 12 and 24 months using the SF‐36 instrument. In addition an economic evaluation was undertaken of the cost‐utility of the programme using a preference‐based single index of health status derived from the SF‐36. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Not provided at time of registration INCLUSION CRITERIA: The subjects of the trial were the populations of 12 general practices in Sheffield, of which four were randomly selected as intervention populations, and eight as control populations. In each intervention population the least active four‐fifths of those aged 65 and over were invited to attend free supervised exercise sessions in local community settings.