The Trends of Medical Care Expenditure with Adjustment of Lifestyle Habits and Medication; 10-Year Retrospective Follow-Up Study

Abstract

In Japan, the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases is the most important issue for the optimization of medical expenditure. This study aimed to analyze the impact of lifestyle and medication status on medical expenditure. Health checkup data and medical expenditure records of a retrospective cohort of 1463 people aged between 40 and 65 years old who underwent specific health checks at least three times between 2008 and 2017 were analyzed. Regression analysis was performed with medical expenditure as the dependent variable and age, gender, waist ratio, medication status, and lifestyle habits as independent variables using a Tobit model. Focusing on the factors that increase medical expenditure, the regression coefficients of age, medication status, weight gain of 10 kg or more since the age of 20, and walking more than 1 h per day were 0.048 (95% CI 0.04 to 0.06), 1.020 (95% CI 0.88 to 1.16), 0.210 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.36), and −0.208 (95% CI −0.35 to −0.07), respectively. The estimate of 5-year cumulative medical expenditure showed that those with walking habits without medication had the lowest medical expenditure. The result of this study suggests that walking more than 1 h a day may lower health expenditure in the general population.

Impact of telephone support programme using telemonitoring on stage of change towards healthy eating and active exercise in people with prediabetes

“…1,2 A weight gain of 10 kg or more since the age of 20 is associated with increased medical expenditure. 3 Non-specific health checkup services are provided optionally for dependents aged 20 to 39 in some large companies and communities to reduce metabolic syndrome at the age of 40 and medical expenditure. 4 The results of specific health checkups are ranked by level, and the appropriate health guidance (group, individual, telephone and email support) is provided.…”