Correlation between acupuncture and moxibustion therapy subsidy and life expectancy / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

[Objective]In this study, we examined the relationship between public subsidies for acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, which are established independently by municipalities that serve as agents for National Health Insurance, and group health level indices such as life expectancy and health care costs that are incurred due to the treatment of illnesses.<BR>[Methods]Eighty-five municipalities in Fukuoka Prefecture that serve as agents for National Health Insurance were the subjects of this study. "The upper limit of subsidy funds available for acupuncture and moxibustion therapy per year"was calculated from the limits of the subsidy systems that were established independently by each municipality. We then examined the relationship between this value, health indices (life expectancy and standardized mortality rate), and health care costs (actual health care costs per person for inpatient and outpatient care for the treatment of illnesses).<BR>[Results]A significant positive correlation was observed between public subsidy funds for acupuncture and moxibustion therapy and life expectancy (malesr = 0.53, P < 0.001, femalesr = 0.44, P < 0.001), whereas a significant negative correlation was observed for standardized mortality rate (malesr =-0.48, P < 0.001, femalesr =-0.34, P < 0.005). Furthermore, a significant negative correlation was observed between public subsidy funds for acupuncture and moxibustion therapy and health care costs (inpatientr =-0.26, P < 0.05, outpatientr =-0.30, P < 0.05).<BR>[Conclusion]Most patients who use acupuncture and moxibustion therapy seek treatment primarily for symptoms involving the musculoskeletal system. The fact that life expectancy is higher when subsidy funds are greater may be considered to be caused by improvements in daily living, increased physical activity due to relief of musculoskeletal disorders through acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, and reduced risk of fatal disease (such as cancer, ischemic heart disease, and cerebrovascular disorders). It also suggests the possibility that acupuncture and moxibustion therapy inhibit the severity of fatal diseases or the conditions that may cause these fatal diseases.