[Changes in homebound status and related factors in community-dwelling older adults participating in physical checkups over two years].

Objective　This study aims to identify changes in homebound status and related factors in community-dwelling older adults participating in physical checkups over two years in order to help with prevention and recovery from being homebound.Methods　A survey on needs in the sphere of daily life was conducted in July 2011 among 6,696 independent older adults in 10 regions of Kameoka City (baseline survey). Of the 6,696 adults, 1,379 responded to the survey and participated in a physical checkup held between March and April 2012. These individuals were then invited to a similar checkup again in September 2013. Of these, 638 consenting individuals were administered a questionnaire survey (follow-up survey). In all, 522 subjects responded to both surveys (baseline and follow-up) regarding being homebound. The responses involved basic attributes, state of daily living, state of health, items of the Kihon Checklist, items concerning daily living activities in the baseline survey, and items concerning being homebound in the follow-up survey. The responses were analyzed, and an evaluation of homebound status was conducted based on whether or not one (or both) of the two items of the Kihon Checklist were applicable. The subjects were classified according to the following: 1) whether non-homebound individuals remained non-homebound (non-homebound group) or whether they became homebound (homebound transition group) and 2) whether individuals who became homebound recovered (recovery group) or remained the same (persisting group). After comparing the characteristics of each group, a logistic regression analysis was employed to analyze the factors related to changes in homebound status after two years.Results　Of the 375 non-homebound individuals in the baseline survey, 326 (86.9%) and 49 (13.1%) were classified into non-homebound and homebound transition groups, respectively. Of the 147 subjects who became homebound, 85 (57.8%) and 62 (42.2%) were classified into the recovery and persisting groups, respectively.　Among the factors related to change in homebound status after two years, a low score of social role (OR=0.675, CI=0.458-0.997) was an independent factor for being at risk of becoming homebound (P<0.05). Having no diseases under treatment (OR=14.340, CI=1.345-152.944) and a high intellectual activity score (OR=2.643, CI=1.378-5.069) were independent factors of recovery from being homebound (P<0.05).Conclusion　The results of the two year longitudinal study suggest the need for support for non-homebound older individuals devoid of social roles to prevent homebound status. Additionally, there is a need for support surrounding the reduction in obtaining a disease and maintaining intellectual activity in order to recover from being homebound.

Characteristic dietary habits associated with high values of estimated 24-hours urinary sodium excretion and sodium-to-potassium ratio assessed by age group among the residents of a rural town in Japan.

Excess salt intake causes hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We examined estimated 24-h urinary sodium (Na) excretion and sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratio and analyzed the association between estimated 24-h urinary salt excretion (urinary salt excretion) and dietary habits by age group to develop effective public health programs to promote salt reduction. A total of 4,051 subjects aged 30-74 years old received information during periodic health checkups. In the analysis, 1,202 subjects without hypertension whose urine samples and dietary habits were confirmed (29.7%; 483 men and 719 women) were included. The median urinary salt excretion was 9.1 g/day in men and 8.6 g/day in women. Daily intake of soups in men aged <50 years old and daily intake of beans, soups, or pickles in women aged ≥70 years old were associated with high values of urinary salt excretion (p = .03, p < .01, p = .01, and p = .02, respectively). The median urinary Na/K ratio (mEq/mEq) was 4.4 in both men and women. Daily intake of vegetables in men aged <50 years old and more than 3 days/week intake of fruit in women aged 50-59 and 60-69 years old were associated with lower values of urinary Na/K ratio (p = .03, p < .01, and p < .01, respectively). These findings revealed that dietary salt reduction should be promoted according to age group with regard to differences in dietary habits associated with high values of estimated 24-h urinary Na excretion and urinary Na/K ratio.

Sociodemographic and physical predictors of non-participation in community based physical checkup among older neighbors: a case-control study from the Kyoto-Kameoka longitudinal study, Japan.

BACKGROUND: It is difficult to obtain detailed information on non-participants in physical and health examination checkups in community-based epidemiological studies. We investigated the characteristics of non-participants in a physical and health examination checkup for older adults in a nested study from the Japanese Kyoto-Kameoka Longitudinal Study. METHODS: We approached a total of 4831 people aged ≥65 years in 10 randomly selected intervention regions. Participants responded to a mail-based population survey on needs in the sphere of daily life to encourage participation in a free face-to-face physical checkup examination; 1463 participants (706 men, 757 women) participated in the physical checkup. A multiple logistic regression model was performed to investigate the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) of non-participation based on sociodemographic status apart from psychological and physiological frailty as assessed by the validated Kihon Checklist. RESULTS: There was a significant, inverse relationship between non-participation and frequently spending time alone among individuals who lived with someone or other family structure (aOR = 0.53, standard error [SE] 0.08 in men, aOR = 0.66, SE 0.09 in women). Very elderly (over 80 years old) women, poorer health consciousness and current smoking in both sexes and poor self-rated health in men, were significantly related to higher non-participation rates. In both sexes, individuals who did not participate in community activities were significantly more likely to be non-participants than individuals who did (aOR = 1.94, SE 0.23 in men, aOR = 3.29, SE 0.39 in women). Having low IADL and physical functioning scores were also associated with higher rates of non-participation. CONCLUSION: Health consciousness and lack of community activity participation were predictors of non-participation in a physical checkup examination among older adults. In addition, lower IADL and physical functioning/strength were also predictors of non-participation. On the contrary, older inhabitants living with someone tended to participate in the physical checkup examination for social interchange when they were frequently alone in the household. This study suggests the importance of considering aging especially for women and poor sociodemographic background and physical frailty for both sexes so that older people can access health programs without difficulty. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN000008105 . Registered 26 April 2012. Retrospectively registered.

Estimation of salt intake and sodium-to-potassium ratios assessed by urinary excretion among Japanese elementary school children.

Dietary salt intake is largely responsible for the increase in blood pressure with age. It is important to start effective prevention approaches during childhood. In this study, we estimated salt intake and sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratios assessed by urinary excretion among elementary school children in Kyoto, Japan. A total of 331 subjects aged 9-11 years participated in school checkups in April 2015. Urinary concentrations of sodium, potassium, and creatinine were measured in first morning urine samples. The subjects' dietary habits were confirmed by questionnaires completed by their parents. The median estimated urinary sodium excretion was 129.0 mmol/day (5.7g/day of salt). In 30.2% of the subjects, their estimated salt intake exceeded their age-specific dietary goal for salt intake recommended by the Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese 2015. Multivariate linear regression model analysis after adjustment for age revealed a significant positive correlation between seaweeds or fish paste products consumption and the estimated salt intake (p = 0.02 and 0.02, respectively). The median urinary Na/K ratio (mEq/mEq) was 4.5. Multivariate linear regression model analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between fruit consumption and urinary Na/K ratio (p = 0.04). These results suggest that the high sodium intake and the high Na/K ratios occur among Japanese elementary school children, and that the urinary Na/K ratio in children may be reduced by the daily consumption of fruit.

[Fall risk factors and sex differences among community-dwelling elderly individuals in Japan. A Kameoka study].

OBJECTIVES: Although factors associated with falls might differ between men and women, no large-scale studies were conducted to examine the sex difference of risk factors for falls in Japanese elderly. The purpose of this study was to examine fall risk factors and sex differences among community-dwelling elderly individuals using a complete survey of the geriatric population in Kameoka city. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted with 18,231 community-dwelling elderly individuals aged 65 years or over in Kameoka city, Kyoto Prefecture, between July and August 2011, excluding people who were publicly certified with a long-term care need of grade 3 or higher. The questionnaire was individually distributed and collected via mail. Out of 12,159 responders (recovery rate of 72.2%), we analyzed the data of 12,054 elderly individuals who were not certified as having long-term care needs. The questionnaire was composed of basic attributes, a simple screening test for fall risk, the Kihon Check List with 25 items, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology (TMIG) index of competence with 13 items. These items were grouped into nine factors: motor function, malnutrition, oral function, houseboundness, forgetfulness, depression, Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL), intellectual activities, and social role. RESULTS: Of all the respondents, 20.8% experienced falls within the last year, and 26.6% were classified as having high fall risk. Fall risk increased with age in both sexes, and risk in all age groups was higher for women than for men. All factors were significantly associated with fall risk in both sexes. After controlling for these factors, a significant relationship was found between fall risk and motor function, malnutrition, oral function, forgetfulness, depression, and IADL in men and motor function, oral function, forgetfulness, depression, and IADL in women. The deterioration of motor function was associated with three-times-higher risk than non-deterioration of motor function. In addition, significant interaction was found in sex×malnutrition, oral function, IADL, and intellectual activities; malnutrition and low oral function were stronger factors in men than in women; and IADL and intellectual activities were stronger factors in women than in men. CONCLUSION: One in five community-dwelling independent elderly individuals experienced falls in the last year, and one in four had high fall risk. We found a significant relationship between fall risk and the nine factors, particularly deterioration of motor function in both sexes. Sex difference was observed for fall risk factors; therefore, a sex-specific support policy for fall prevention is necessary.

[Health behavioral factors related to the attitude toward quit-smoking among factory workers].

PURPOSE: It is important to focus on various characteristics of people to promote measures for quitting-smoking. Using the Health Belief Model, we here investigated social and psychological factors related to willingness to cease smoking among factory-workers in the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture. METHOD: From October to November 2001, the 810 subjects were surveyed about their smoking behavior and related factors using an unsigned self-administered questionnaire. Among the 534 respondents, we performed logistic regression analysis, considering 7 factors ((1) age, (2) susceptibility, (3) seriousness, (4) benefits, (5) barriers, (6) mass-media and (7) advice from others) as independent variables and interest in smoking cessation as a dependent variable. Four comparisons ((1) "no interest" vs "precontemplation or contemplation", (2) "no interest" vs "precontemplation", (3) "no interest" vs "contemplation", (4) "precontemplation" vs "contemplation") were conducted for 239 males who were current smokers at the time of the survey. RESULTS: Acceptance of the benefits of smoking cessation showed a significant positive association with willingness to quit smoking, with Ors for comparisons of "no interest" vs "preconemplation or contemplation", "no interest" vs "precontemplation", and "no interest" vs "contemplation" (odds ratios (95%CI) of 3.06 (1.76-5.31), 2.78 (1.58-4.90), 4.41 (1.75-11.15), respectively). Acceptance of the seriousness of health hazards from smoking had a significant positive association with the willingness to quit (odds ratio (95%CI) was 1.88 (1.02-3.46)). CONCLUSION: It is can be concluded that it is useful to enhance subjective recognition of the benefits of not-smoking and the seriousness of the harm caused by smoking, to increase the level of willingness of quitting from "no interest" to "precontemplation" or "contemplation".