Effects of background factors on subjective health and survival rate among community-dwelling persons / 日本プライマリ・ケア連合学会誌

ABSTRACT

<b>Background</b> With the recent progression of the aging society in Japan, what is now seen as important is not simply treatment of disease alone, but also increased quality of life. We have investigated the correlation between the feeling of subjective health and mortality after mean 3.8 year among local residents.<br><b>Methods</b> In fiscal 2008, a self-recording questionnaire survey was conducted by mailing the questionnaire to 2,657 local residents. Correlation with deaths after mean 3.8 years was investigated based on the Resident Register. With regard to the evaluation items, as background factors related to death, social life conditions (gender·age), health conditions (history of cardiovascular disease, state of depression, subjective happiness, subjective health)and basic activities of daily living (BADL walking, diet, excretion, bathing, dressing, and ambulation)were evaluated using a 4-point scale ranging from total assistance to completely independent. The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology (TMIG instrumental independence, intellectual activity, and social role)was used to evaluate the lifestyle factors.<br><b>Results</b> Of 1825 subjects, 767 males (mean age 67±13 years)and 1058 females (mean age 68±11 years), could be analyzed. There were 91 deaths from 2008 to 2012. Investigation of factors that increased subjective health revealed that age, cardiovascular disease, state of depression, intellectual activities, and subjective happiness were items that showed significant correlation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that subjective health was a significant explanatory variable of death.<br><b>Conclusion</b> How one personally feels about one's state of health and how one recognizes that, are important. Though not seen physically, they can be considered as important parameters that predict prognosis.