Characteristics of cancer patients dying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic: A study based on vital statistics from 2015 to 2022 in Japan.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has markedly affected end-of-life care, notably increasing home deaths among cancer patients in Japan. This study investigated the characteristics of cancer patients who died at home during the pandemic and the associated factors before and during the pandemic.

Methods: Vital statistics from January 2015 to December 2022 were analyzed to evaluate trends in home deaths among cancer patients aged 0 to 113 years, pre-pandemic (January 2015 to March 2020) and during the pandemic (April 2020 to December 2022).

Regional disparities in home health care utilization for older adults and their associated factors at the secondary medical area level: A Nationwide study in Japan.

Aim: As aging populations shift health care from hospitals to communities, Japan has implemented policies to promote home health care. This study explored regional differences in home health care recipients among older adults and related factors.

Methods: We used nationwide data from 2020 to describe the proportion of older adults receiving regular home visits and the medical institutions utilized across secondary medical areas: urban, middle and depopulated areas.

Change in the Proportion of Death at Home during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Associated Factors in the Municipality Level: A Nationwide Study in Japan.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have led to an increase in home deaths due to hospital bed shortage and hospital visitation restrictions. This study aimed to examine changes in the proportion of home deaths before and after the COVID-19 pandemic and identify associated factors.

Methods: We used publicly available nationwide data to describe the proportion of home deaths among total deaths from 2015 to 2021.

The Effect of Home Care Support Clinics on Hospital Readmission in Heart Failure Patients in Japan.

Background: Heart failure is common and is associated with high rates of hospitalization. Home care support clinics/hospitals (HCSCs) and enhanced HCSCs were introduced in Japan in 2006 and 2012, respectively.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of post-discharge care by conventional or enhanced HCSCs on readmission, compared with general clinics.

Development and validation of a risk score to predict the frequent emergency house calls among older people who receive regular home visits.

Background: The demand for home healthcare is increasing in Japan, and a 24-hour on-call system could be a burden for primary care physicians. Identifying high-risk patients who need frequent emergency house calls could help physicians prepare and allocate medical resources. The aim of the present study was to develop a risk score to predict the frequent emergency house calls in patients who receive regular home visits.

Factors Affecting Care-Level Deterioration among Older Adults with Mild and Moderate Disabilities in Japan: Evidence from the Nationally Standardized Survey for Care-Needs Certification.

This study aims to investigate the factors of care-level deterioration in older adults with mild and moderate disabilities using nationally standardized survey data for care-needs certification. We enrolled people aged 68 years or older, certified as support levels 1-2 (mild disability) or care levels 1-2 (moderate disability) with no cancer. The outcome was care-level deterioration after two years.

Effects of Early Postdischarge Rehabilitation Services on Care Needs-Level Deterioration in Older Adults With Functional Impairment: A Propensity Score-Matched Study.

Objective: To examine the effects of early postdischarge rehabilitation on care needs-level deterioration in older Japanese patients.

Design: Propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study.

Setting: A secondary data analysis was conducted using medical and long-term care insurance claims data from a suburban city in Japan.

Associations of coprescribed medications for chronic comorbid conditions in very old adults with clinical dementia: a retrospective cohort study using insurance claims data.

Objective: To assess the association of coprescribed medications for chronic comorbid conditions with clinical dementia in older adults, as indicated by the initiation of a new prescription of antidementia medication (NPADM).

Design: Retrospective enumeration cohort study.

Setting: A Japanese city in Tokyo Metropolitan Area.

Prevention services via public long-term care insurance can be effective among a specific group of older adults in Japan.

Background: To evaluate the effects of prevention services provided by long-term care insurance (LTCI) for older adults who require support from LTCI in Kashiwa City, Japan.

Methods: We conducted an analysis using the following population-based longitudinal data in Kashiwa City between April 2012 and March 2015: Data of National Health Insurance and LTCI claims, the survey for certification of LTCI, the register, and premium tier classification. All data was linked using the pre-assigned anonymous identifying numbers.

[The pulmonary rehabilitation utilization rate among older people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Japan: A retrospective study using medical and long-term care insurance claims data].

Aim: This study aimed to improve the understanding of the utilization rates and the characteristics of users of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) among people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Methods: We used medical and long-term care claims data from between April 2012 and March 2013 from Kashiwa city in Chiba prefecture, Japan. The study participants included patients of ≥63 years of age, who had received outpatient treatment for COPD (ICD-10 codes: J41-J44) two or more times during the study period, and who had been prescribed two or more COPD-related drugs.

Guideline-Based Medications for Older Adults Discharged after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in a Suburban City of Japan: A Cohort Study Using Claims Data.

Secondary prevention with medications is essential for the better prognosis of patients who have experienced cardiovascular events. We aimed to evaluate the use of guideline-based medications for secondary prevention in older adults in the community settings after discharge following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A retrospective cohort study was conducted using anonymized claims data of older beneficiaries in a suburban city of Japan between April 2012 and March 2015.

Association of household income with home-based rehabilitation and home help service utilization among long-term home care service users.

Background: To examine the association of household income with home-based rehabilitation and home help services in terms of service utilization and expenditures.

Methods: A secondary data analysis of cross-sectional design was conducted using long-term care (LTC) insurance claims data, medical claims data, and three types of administrative data. The subjects comprised LTC insurance beneficiaries in Kashiwa city, Japan, who used long-term home care services in the month following care needs certification.

Community-based program promotes interprofessional collaboration among home healthcare professionals: A non-randomized controlled study.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of an interprofessional collaboration (IPC) promotion program among community healthcare professionals.

Methods: A non-randomized controlled study was carried out. Study participants were home healthcare-related professionals in a suburban city near Tokyo; program participants were compared with non-participants.

The associations of multimorbidity with the sum of annual medical and long-term care expenditures in Japan.

Background: The occurrence of multimorbidity (i.e., the coexistence of multiple chronic diseases) increases with age in older adults and is a growing concern worldwide.

Correction to: Estimated expenditures for hip fractures using merged healthcare insurance data for individuals aged ≥ 75 years and long-term care insurance claims data in Japan.

The article Estimated expenditures for hip fractures using merged healthcare insurance data for individuals aged ≥ 75 years and long-term care insurance claims data in Japan.

Household Income Relationship With Health Services Utilization and Healthcare Expenditures in People Aged 75 Years or Older in Japan: A Population-Based Study Using Medical and Long-term Care Insurance Claims Data.

Background: This study aimed to determine whether there are disparities in healthcare services utilization according to household income among people aged 75 years or older in Japan.

Methods: We used data on medical and long-term care (LTC) insurance claims and on LTC insurance premiums and needs levels for people aged 75 years or older in a suburban city. Data on people receiving public welfare were not available.

Potentially avoidable hospitalizations, non-potentially avoidable hospitalizations and in-hospital deaths among residents of long-term care facilities.

Aim: The present study aimed to examine the percentage of and risk factors for potentially avoidable hospitalizations (PAH), non-PAH and in-hospital deaths among residents of special nursing homes for the elderly (SNH) and geriatric health service facilities (GHSF).

Methods: Long-term care and national health insurance claims data (April 2012 to September 2013) were obtained from a suburban city in Chiba prefecture, Japan. Study participants were aged ≥75 years and resided in either SNH (n = 1138) or GHSF (n = 885).

Estimated expenditures for hip fractures using merged healthcare insurance data for individuals aged ≥ 75 years and long-term care insurance claims data in Japan.

Unlabelled: Little is known about hip fracture expenditure in Japan. Using claims data obtained from a core city near Tokyo, we estimated the mean healthcare expenditure and monthly long-term care expenditure post-hip fracture to be ¥2,600,000 (US$29,500) and ¥113,000 (US$1290), respectively.

Purpose: We aimed to estimate healthcare and long-term care expenditures post-hip fracture in Japan.

[Development of an inter-professional educational program for home care professionals: Evaluation of short-term effects in suburban areas].

Objective　To examine the short-term effects of an inter-professional educational program developed for physicians and other home care specialists to promote home care in the community.Methods　From March 2012 to January 2013, an inter-professional educational program (IEP) was held four times in three suburban areas (Kashiwa city and Matsudo city in the Chiba prefecture, and Omori district in the Ota ward). This program aimed to motivate physicians to increase the number of home visits and to encourage home care professionals to work together in the same community areas by promoting inter-professional work (IPW).

Development of a gateway for interoperability in community-based care: An empirical study.

Background: Information and communications technology has attracted attention as a useful way of sharing care records in community-based care. Such information sharing systems, however, imposed the burden of inputting the same records into different information systems due to a lack of interoperability of the systems.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop a gateway that links information systems and to investigate the functionality and usability of the gateway through an empirical study.

Cooperation between Single-Handed and Group Practices Ensures the Replacement of Gastrostomy Tubes and Tracheal Cannulas in Home Medical Care Settings.

In Japan, patients who require home medical care are increasing especially in the elderly. In home medical care settings, devices such as gastrostomy tubes, tracheal cannulas, and urethral catheters are usually replaced by visiting physicians or nurses. However, device replacement services are not always available in Japan.

Characteristics of care management agencies affect expenditure on home help and day care services: A population-based cross-sectional study in Japan.

Aim: The financial interests of care management agencies can affect how care managers assist clients' use of long-term care insurance services. The present study examined the relationship between clients' service expenditures, and whether the home help and day care service agencies belonged to the same organization as the care management agency.

Methods: Population-based data were obtained from a suburban municipality in Japan.