Trends in Biometric Health Indices Within an Employer-Sponsored Wellness Program With Outcome-Based Incentives
In: American journal of health promotion, Volume 30, Issue 6, p. 453-457
ISSN: 2168-6602
Purpose: To evaluate changes in employees' biometrics over time relative to outcome-based incentive thresholds. Design: Retrospective cohort analysis of biometric screening participants (n = 26 388). Setting: Large employer primarily in Western United States. Participants: Office, retail, and distribution workforce. Intervention: A voluntary outcome-based biometric screening program, incentivized with health insurance premium discounts. Measures: Body mass index (BMI), cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure, and nicotine. Analysis: Followed were participants from their first year of participation, evaluating changes in measures. Results: On average, participants who did not meet the incentive threshold at baseline decreased their BMI (1%), glucose (8%), blood pressure (systolic 9%, diastolic 8%), and total cholesterol (8%) by year 2 with improvements generally sustained or continued during each additional year of participation. Conclusion: On average, individuals at high health risk who participated in a financially incentivized biometric assessment program improved their health indices over time. Further research is needed to understand key determinants that drive health improvement indicated here.