Relationship Between Medical Therapy, Long-Term Care Insurance, and Comorbidity in Elderly Patients With Heart Failure With Systolic Dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Although guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), including ß-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi)/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), improves survival and quality of life, most patients with heart failure with reduced (HFrEF) and mildly reduced (HFmrEF) ejection fraction are treated with inadequate medications. We investigated the prescription patterns of GDMT in elderly patients with HFrEF and HFmrEF and their characteristics, including the certification of long-term care insurance (LTCI), which represents frailty and disability.Methods and Results: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed 1,296 elderly patients with symptomatic HFrEF and HFmrEF with diuretic use (median age 78 years; 63.8% male; median left ventricular ejection fraction 40%). Prescription rates of GDMT were inadequate (ACEi, ARBs, ß-blockers, and MRAs: 27.0%, 30.1%, 54.1%, and 41.9%, respectively). LTCI certification was independently associated with reduced prescription of all medications (ACEi/ARB: odds ratio [OR] 0.591, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.449-0.778, P=0.001; ß-blockers: OR 0.698, 95% CI 0.529-0.920, P<0.001; MRAs: OR 0.743, 95% CI 0.560-0.985, P=0.052). Patients with LTCI certification also had a high prevalence of polypharmacy and prescription of diuretics. CONCLUSIONS: Vulnerable patients with LTCI may be an explanation for the challenges in implementing GDMT, and communicating is required for favorable heart failure care in this population.

Analysis of the risk factors of mortality in elderly patients with hip fracture using a combined database of medical and long-term care insurance claims data.

BACKGROUND: The present study evaluated the risk of mortality in elderly hip fracture, focusing on comorbidities and nursing care levels. METHODS: The present study was an observational cohort study that used a combined database of medical and long-term care insurance (LTCI) claims data from one prefecture in Japan between 2011 and 2016. In total, 6125 patients aged 65 years and older were selected from acute care hospitals with a diagnosis of "hip fracture" between March 2011 and March 2012. The impact of long-term care insurance claim evaluation levels and comorbidities at recruitment time was investigated using this dataset. These patients were followed up monthly until March 2016. Based on this person-month dataset, survival analysis was performed with death as the endpoint. Cases in which receipt data were missing during the middle of the observation period and cases in which the patient survived at the end of the observation period were censored. RESULTS: The number of deaths during the observation period was 635 (10.4%). The impact of comorbidities and nursing care level on mortality were both significant as follows: high nursing care level before the fracture (hazard ratio: 1.09, P < 0.001), comorbidities of malignant diseases (HR: 1.45, P < 0.001), heart disease (hazard ratio: 1.20, P = 0.037), pneumonia (hazard ratio: 1.27, P < 0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (hazard ratio: 1.28, P = 0.026), renal failure (hazard ratio: 1.44, P < 0.001), and dementia (hazard ratio: 1.27, P = 0.013). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that a high level of nursing care and presence of comorbidities such as malignant diseases, heart diseases, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal failure, and dementia increased mortality in elderly patients with hip fracture. Furthermore, this study showed the usefulness of a combined database of medical and LTCI claims data for clinical and health service-related research in the field of orthopedics.

Implementation of geriatric assessment and long-term care insurance system by medical professionals in cancer treatment: a nationwide survey in Japan.

BACKGROUND: A questionnaire survey was conducted to assess the implementation status of geriatric assessment in cancer treatment and the potential for collaboration between medical care and the long-term care insurance system. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to 795 facilities in Japan. The questions were instructed to be answered via an online survey (SurveyMonkey®), which began in September 2020 and closed on 31 October 2020. The questionnaire consisted of 8 questions on the status of geriatric assessment implementation and 15 questions on the long-term care insurance system. RESULTS: In total, 631 departments in 340 (42.8%) of 795 hospitals and clinics provided responses. Approximately 81.5% of the departments did not perform geriatric assessment. The common reasons were lack of knowledge about geriatric assessment (54.0%) and lack of personnel (35.5%). Even if geriatric assessment was conducted, 63.6% of departments did not utilize geriatric assessment results in clinical practice. Approximately 61.7% of respondents were familiar with the long-term care insurance system and 62.9% with the certification process. Moreover, 28% of respondents used certification examination results in treatment planning. CONCLUSIONS: Geriatric assessment is less recognized than the long-term care insurance system, and its results are rarely used in clinical practice. However, 28% of certification examination results are utilized in treatment decision-making. Notably, this survey first showed the incorporation of the long-term care insurance system into the medical care of vulnerable elderly patients with cancer.

Care needs level in long-term care insurance system and family caregivers' self-perceived time-dependent burden in patients with home palliative care for cancer: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: Although home care improves patients' quality of life (QOL), several studies have suggested that home care lowers the QOL of family caregivers and decreases their mortality. To alleviate the deleterious impact of home care on caregivers, the major burdens on caregivers and the clinical characteristics of the caregivers vulnerable to the major burden needs to be clarified. METHOD: A survey questionnaire was distributed to 710 family caregivers of patients with cancer in Japan, and 342 valid responses were obtained (valid response rate: 48.2%). The Burden Index of Caregivers was used to identify the major burden on caregivers. To assess the associations of the patients' care needs level and other clinically relevant factors with the major burden, a multivariable-adjusted logistic regression model was used. RESULTS: The time-dependent burden was identified as a major burden. An adjusted model showed a nonlinear association between the care needs level and the time-dependent burden, in which the caregivers of the patients who required moderate care needs level had the highest time-dependent burden [adjusted odds ratio of none, mild, moderate, and severe care needs levels: 0.50 (95% confidence interval 0.07-2.12), 1.08 (0.43-2.57), 1.87 (1.01-3.52), and 1.00 (reference), respectively]. Additionally, older patients and younger caregivers were significantly associated with a time-dependent burden. CONCLUSION: The time-dependent burden was highest in caregivers at the moderate care needs level and younger caregivers. An imbalance between the demand and supply of care services may be improved by considering the clinical characteristics of both patients and caregivers.

[Does participation in community gatherings suppress aggravation of functional decline risk among older people? A study based on 2013-2016 data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study].

Objective　Through the amendment of the Long-Term Care Insurance Law in 2014, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare established a general long-term care and prevention project centered on "Kayoinoba" to promote participation in social and physical activities for older people, which included environmental approaches for individual health and well-being through community-building. However, reports show that the effectiveness of long-term care and prevention in Kayoinoba across multiple municipalities is limited. The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of participation in Kayoinoba in reducing the risk of functional decline among older people, using data from 24 municipalities of 10 prefectures nationwide.Methods　This study examined self-administered mail survey data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study. The participants were older people aged ≥65 years who lived in 24 municipalities of 10 prefectures, in 2013 and 2016. The dependent variable was an increase in total score of ≥5 points on a risk assessment scale predicting incident functional disability ("incident functional disability risk score")(Tsuji et al., 2018), and the explanatory variable was existence of participation in a Kayoinoba program. Nine variables were used as the covariates: educational attainment, equivalent income, depression, smoking, drinking, instrumental activities of daily living, incident functional disability risk score in 2013 (including sex and age), living status (whether the person lived alone), and employment status in 2013. We conducted Poisson regression analysis with stratification of the participants into two groups according to age: young older people and old older people. Sensitivity analysis of the possible increase of ≥3 or 7 points in the incident functional disability risk score was also conducted.Results　Of the 3,760 participants in the study, 472 (316 young older people and 156 old older people)[12.6% (11.8%, 14.5%)] participated in Kayoinoba. Compared with those who did not participate in Kayoinoba, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of increase in risk assessment score was 0.88 (95% confidence interval: 0.65-1.18) for all who did participate, 1.13 (0.80-1.60) in the young older people and 0.54 (0.30-0.96) in the old older people, and was significant in the latter. In addition, similar results were obtained in the sensitivity analysis with the dependent variable as an increase in total score of ≥3 or 7 points on the risk assessment scale predicting incident functional disability.Conclusions　Compared with those who did not participate in Kayoinoba, functional decline risk was suppressed in those who did participate. The IRR was suppressed 46% in old older people. Promoting participation in Kayoinoba may effectively prevent the need for long-term care in old older people.

Frailty Status Predicts New Long-term Care Insurance Certification in Hepatitis C Patients Receiving Antiviral Therapy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies for patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection deliver higher cure rates and lower frequencies of adverse events than existing therapies, though DAA treatment costs $45,000-64,000 in Japan. The prognosis of patients who require new long-term care insurance (LTCI) certification is inferior to that of patients who do not. Here, we clarify the factors associated with new LTCI certification in elderly patients with HCV infection who undergo DAA therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively surveyed 53 patients aged ≥70 years who were treated with DAAs, and evaluated the factors associated with new LTCI certification. RESULTS: Of 53 patients, 10 required new LTCI certification. Age ≥85 years and a modified Japanese Cardiovascular Health Study index ≥2 were independently associated with new LTCI certification. CONCLUSION: In elderly HCV patients, poor frailty status strongly predicted new LTCI certification after DAA therapy.

Dental Status is Associated With Incident Functional Disability in Community-Dwelling Older Japanese: A Prospective Cohort Study Using Propensity Score Matching.

BACKGROUND: A growing number of epidemiology studies have shown that poor oral health is associated with an increased incidence of functional disability. However, there are few studies in which the confounding bias is adjusted appropriately. In this study, we examined whether dental status is associated with functional disability in elderly Japanese using a 13-year prospective cohort study after elimination of confounding factors with propensity score matching. METHODS: Participants were community-dwelling Japanese aged 70 years or older who lived in the Tsurugaya district of Sendai (n = 838). The number of remaining teeth (over 20 teeth vs 0-19 teeth) was defined as the exposure variable. The outcome was the incidence of functional disability, defined as the first certification of long-term care insurance (LTCI) in Japan. The variables that were used to determine propensity score matching were age, sex, body mass index (BMI), medical history (stroke, hypertension, myocardial infarction, cancer, and diabetes), smoking, alcohol consumption, educational attainment, depression symptoms, cognitive impairment, physical function, social support, and marital status. RESULTS: As a result of the propensity score matching, 574 participants were selected. Participants with 0-19 teeth were more likely to develop functional disability than those with 20 or more teeth (hazard ratio 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.75). CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective cohort study targeting community-dwelling older adults in Japan, having less than 20 teeth was confirmed to be an independent risk factor for functional disability even after conducting propensity score matching. This study supports previous publications showing that oral health is associated with functional disability.

Risk Profiles for Care Dependency: Cross-Sectional Findings of a Population-Based Cohort Study in Germany.

Background: Rising life expectancy in Western societies is accompanied by a rising incidence of care dependency (CD) among older people. Objective: The aim of the study was to examine which health-related and social determinants were associated with CD. Method: We used cross-sectional data from the first follow-up (N = 1,699) of a prospective, population-based cohort study of older participants (≥70 years). CD was assessed if participants required substantial assistance in at least two activities of daily living for 90+ minutes daily. Multivariate logistic regressions were applied. Results: Participants' mean age was 82 years; 18.9% were care-dependent. CD was significantly associated with older age, urinary incontinence, stroke, falls, cancer, diabetes, education level, having no partner, limited mobility, and limited physical activity. Discussion: Our research highlights the importance of promoting mobility, even in care-dependent people. Further research should investigate the role of partnership in terms of the prevention and delay of CD.

Receiving the home care service offered by certified care workers prior to a patients' death and the probability of a home death: observational research using an instrumental variable method from Japan.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between receiving the certified care workers' home care service, which is provided by non-medical professionals prior to a patients' death and the probability of a home death. DESIGN: Observational research using the full-time translated number of certified care workers providing home care service per member of the population aged 65 or above, during the year prior to patient's death per municipality as an instrumental variable. SETTING: The certified care workers' home care service covered by the public long-term care insurance (LTCI) system in Japan. PARTICIPANTS: In total, 1 613 391 LTCI beneficiaries aged 65 or above who passed away, except by an external cause of death, between January 2010 and December 2013 were included in the analysis. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Death at home or death at other places, including hospitals, nursing homes and clinics with beds. RESULTS: Out of all participants, 173 498 (10.8%) died at home. The number of patients who used the certified care workers' home care service more than once per each month during 1, 2 or 3 months prior to the month of death numbered 213 848, 176 686 and 155 716, respectively. This was associated with an increased probability of death at home by 9.1% points (95% CI 2.9 to 15.3), 10.5% points (3.3 to 17.6) and 11.4% points (3.6 to 19.2), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the certified care workers' home care service prior to death was associated with the increased probability of a home death.

Education level and incident functional disability in elderly Japanese: The Ohsaki Cohort 2006 study.

As the factors that link education level with incident functional disability in elderly Japanese have never been investigated, the present study investigated this issue in an elderly Japanese population. A 9-year prospective cohort study (2006-2015) was conducted among 8,680 Japanese individuals (≥65 years), Ohsaki city, Japan. In a baseline survey, we collected data on education level and potential mediators. Data on incident functional disability were retrieved from the Long-term Care Insurance database. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident functional disability by education level (below upper-secondary education (reference), and upper secondary education and above). Mediating effects were estimated using accelerated failure time model and a logistic regression model. During 9-year follow-up period, 2,742 cases (31.6%) of incident functional disability were observed, and education level showed an inverse association with functional disability (P for trend <0.01). Participation in community activities had the largest mediating effect (34.7%) on the relationship between education level and incident functional disability. This effect remained among those aged 65-74 years (19.9%) but became negligible among those aged ≥75 years. Other potential mediators (such as smoking and drinking status) were also tested, but these showed only small mediating effects. The inverse association between education level and the incident risk of functional disability appears to be largely mediated by participation in community activities among elderly Japanese, especially those aged 65-74 years.

Joint impact of seven risk factors on incident dementia in elderly Japanese: the Ohsaki Cohort 2006 Study.

BACKGROUND: This cohort study estimated the population attributable fraction (PAF) of seven combined major risk factors for incident dementia. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study of 8563 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥ 65 years. In a baseline survey (2006), we collected data on major seven risk factors: diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, physical inactivity, severe psychological distress, smoking, and low educational attainment. The total number of risk factors was applied as an exposure variable. Subjects were categorized into four groups according to the total number of risk factors they possessed (0, 1, 2, ≥ 3 risk factors). Data on incident dementia were retrieved from the public Long-term Care Insurance database. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated using the Cox proportional regression model. We also calculated the PAF using HRs and the prevalences in our cohort data. RESULTS: The number of cases of incident dementia was 577 (6.7%). A dose-response relationship between the total number of risk factors and incident dementia was observed; in comparison with no risk factors (reference), the age- and sex-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) were 1.25 (0.92-1.70) for one risk factor, 1.59 (1.18-2.15) for two, and 2.21 (1.62-3.01) for three or more (P trend < 0.001). If subjects had adhered to none of the risk factors, the PAF would have been 32.2%. If subjects had improved toward one better category, the PAF would have been 23.0%. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that reducing the combined number of risk factors would contribute significantly to reducing the incidence of dementia.

Impact of Sedentary Time on Chronic Kidney Disease and Disability Incidence in Community-Dwelling Japanese Older Adults: A 4-Year Prospective Cohort Study.

This study examined the association between the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and disability incidence according to sedentary time in community-dwelling Japanese older adults. This prospective cohort study sampled 5,104 community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years) enrolled in a health promotion study in a general population. The participants (n = 4,457; ≥65 years) were monitored for inclusion in the long-term care insurance system for 4 years. This study used blood samples to assess eGFR. Cox proportional regression analysis was used to determine predictors of disability. In total, 461 participants (10.3%) became newly certified as needing long-term care insurance services. Cox regression models were adjusted for multiple confounders: eGFR < 45 ml/min/1.73 m2 (hazard ratio = 1.741, 95% confidence interval [1.193-2.539]) and eGFR < 45 ml/min/1.73 m2 with high sedentary time (≥8 hr) (hazard ratio = 4.367, 95% confidence interval [2.021-9.438]) remained significantly associated with disability incidence. Our findings suggest that in the case of chronic kidney disease, the disability incidence rate may be affected by sedentary time.

Subjective health status of multimorbidity: verifying the mediating effects of medical and assistive devices.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to verify the mediating effect of using assistive devices as a factor that alleviates the relationship between multimorbidity and subjective health status. METHODS: This study used three-year data (2011-2013) from the Korea Health Panel (KHP). The data were jointly collected by the consortium of the National Health Insurance Service and Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. RESULTS: The mediating effect of using assistive devices was verified, but the direction of the effect was deteriorated subjective health. In other words, in terms of the impact of multimorbidity on subjective health, using assistive devices had a negative impact (-) on subjective health. CONCLUSIONS: The current assessment system for medical devices, narrow scope for choice of assistive devices, and limited scope of health insurance benefits must change to ultimately lead to a positive mediating effect on using medical devices and on subjective health satisfaction of patients with chronic diseases. A system that embraces all ages and generations must be developed. To this end, it is necessary to expand the scope of medical devices and insurance payment in long-term care insurance for elderly users, as well as the active meaning of medical devices in terms of health insurance.

Healthcare costs for the elderly in Japan: Analysis of medical care and long-term care claim records.

BACKGROUND: The population is aging rapidly in many developed countries. Such countries need to respond to the growing demand and expanding costs of healthcare (HC) for the elderly. Therefore, it is important to investigate the factors correlating such HC costs. In Japan, HC is composed of two sections, namely medical care (MC) and long-term care (LTC). While many studies have examined MC and LTC costs on their own, few studies have conducted comprehensive investigations of HC costs. The aim of this study is to examine the risk factors that influence HC costs for the elderly who enroll in the LTC insurance system in Japan. METHODS: The inclusion criteria in the present study are as follows: being 65 years of age, or older; certified eligibility for, and use of services offered by the LTC insurance system at home or in an institutional setting in December 2009; and being covered by the National Health Insurance (NHI) system. MC and LTC insurance data were obtained from claim records for the elderly in July and December of 2007, 2008, and 2009 (i.e., a total of six survey points). Panel data, per subject, were constructed using MC and LTC claim records. The sample included 810 subjects and 4029 observations. RESULTS: We estimated a regression equation with a censored dependent variable using a Tobit model. Significant associations between MC or LTC costs and interaction terms (household composition × seasonal effects) were investigated. MC costs significantly decreased and LTC costs significantly increased among subjects living alone during winter. Income level was also a positive determinant of MC costs, while eligibility level was a positive determinant of LTC costs. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend that the health policy for the elderly focus more on seasonal effects, household composition, and income level, as well as on eligibility level.

Identification of dementia using standard clinical assessments by primary care physicians in Japan.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to develop a way of identifying dementia using clinical assessments made by primary care physicians under the existing medical care system in Japan. METHODS: A total of 623 people aged ≥65 years underwent standard clinical assessments by primary care physicians under the long-term-care insurance program to determine their grade of activities of daily living related to dementia. To examine the validity of the diagnosis, neuropsychiatrists carried out further diagnosis of dementia for all the participants. We regarded the dementia patients who received care for disability under the long-term care insurance program as having disabling dementia. RESULTS: Multivariable odds ratio (95% confidence interval) in single-grade increments of the activity was 2.1 (1.7-2.5) for dementia and 2.8 (2.2-3.4) for disabling dementia. The grades ≥I and ≥IIa were near the upper-left corner in the receiver operating characteristic curves. Setting the cut-off point at grades ≥I or ≥IIa yielded a higher integrated discrimination improvement, suggesting a major improvement in reducing misclassification by using these cut-off points. When we used grades ≥I as the cut-off point, the sensitivity (95% confidence limits) was 65% (58-72%) and the specificity was 93% (91-96%) for dementia, and the corresponding values in grades ≥IIa were 54% (47-62%) and 96% (94-97%). The corresponding values for disabling dementia were 83% (76-90%), 92% (90-95%), 73% (65-80%) and 96% (94-97%). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that selection of grades ≥I or ≥IIa as the cut-off point would reduce instances of misclassification in the identification of dementia and disabling dementia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 738-744.

[Diseases requiring severe-level care certification for long-term care insurance].

Objectives　Extending health expectancy is important; however, health and welfare programs in local areas and communities present their own issues. This study aimed to identify main diseases requiring severe-level care certification for long-term care insurance based on information gathered from opinion papers prepared by primary doctors.Methods　Data were obtained for 4,089 patients aged ≧65 years who were certified for long-term care insurance for the first time between April 1, 2013, and March 31, 2015. Their disorders were categorized into the groups used in the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions long-term care questionnaire. The subjects were categorized into "mild" and "severe" groups according to their long-term care insurance levels. Subjects in the severe group were long-term care insurance levels 2-5. The associations with diseases in the two groups were examined using chi-square tests according to gender. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted for those diseases which showed significant associations by chi-square test for the dependent variables after adjusting for age.Results　Malignancy was the most frequent disorder in men, whereas joint disease was most frequent in mild group women. In men, there was a significant difference in the frequency of diseases between the mild and severe groups for stroke (P<0.001), malignancy (P<0.001), joint disease (P<0.001), diabetes (P=0.015), fracture and falls (P=0.028), and others (P<0.001) by chi-square tests. In women, there was a significant difference in the frequency of diseases between the mild and severe groups for stroke (P<0.001), malignancy (P<0.001), joint disease (P<0.001), dementia (P<0.001), Parkinson's disease (P=0.003), and others (P<0.001). In men, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that stroke, malignancy, and fracture and falls were significantly and positively associated with severe-level, long-term care insurance, while joint disease and hypertension were negatively associated. In women, stroke, malignancy, dementia, and Parkinson's disease were significantly associated with severe long-term care insurance level, while joint disease and hypertension were negatively associated.Conclusion　The main diseases requiring severe-level care in both men and women were stroke and malignancy. These diseases occurred in large numbers among those less than 74 years of age. This finding suggests the importance of preventing lifestyle-related diseases before the age of 65 years in order to avoid requiring nursing care.

Sustainability of Long-term Care: Puzzling Tasks Ahead for Policy-Makers.

BACKGROUND: The sustainability of long-term care (LTC) is a prominent policy priority in many Western countries. LTC is one of the most pressing fiscal issues for the growing population of elderly people in the European Union (EU) Member States. Country recommendations regarding LTC are prominent under the EU's European Semester. METHODS: This paper examines challenges related to the financial- and organizational sustainability of LTC systems in the EU. We combined a targeted literature review and a descriptive selected country analysis of: (1) public- and private funding; (2) informal care and externalities; and (3) the possible role of technology in increasing productivity. Countries were selected via purposive sampling to establish a cohort of country cases covering the spectrum of differences in LTC systems: public spending, private funding, informal care use, informal care support, and cash benefits. RESULTS: The aging of the population, the increasing gap between availability of informal care and demand for LTC, substantial market failures of private funding for LTC, and fiscal imbalances in some countries, have led to structural reforms and enduring pressures for LTC policy-makers across the EU. Our exploration of national policies illustrates different solutions that attempt to promote fairness while stimulating efficient delivery of services. Important steps must be taken to address the sustainability of LTC. First, countries should look deeper into the possibilities of complementing public- and private funding, as well as at addressing market failures of private funding. Second, informal care externalities with spill-over into neighboring policy areas, the labor force, and formal LTC workers, should be properly addressed. Thirdly, innovations in LTC services should be stimulated to increase productivity through technology and process innovations, and to reduce costs. CONCLUSION: The analysis shows why it is difficult for EU Member State governments to meet all their goals for sustainable LTC, given the demographic- and fiscal circumstances, and the complexities of LTC systems. It also shows the usefulness to learn from policy design and implementation of LTC policy in other countries, within and outside the EU. Researchers can contribute by studying conditions, under which the strategies explored might deliver solutions for policy-makers.

Urinary tract infection: a cohort of older people with urinary incontinence / Infección del tracto urinario: cohorte de ancianos con incontinencia urinaria / Infecção do trato urinário: uma coorte de idosos com incontinência urinária

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate epidemiological aspects of urinary tract infection in older patients with urinary incontinence living in long-term care institutions in Belo Horizonte. Method: Concurrent cohort held from April 1st to October 1st, 2015. The study was conducted in two long-term care institutions in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, with 84 incontinent older people. Results: Cumulative incidence of urinary tract infection was 19% (95% CI: 7.83-23.19) and the incidence density was 3.6 cases/100 people-month of follow-up period. The variables Bacteriuria and Institution presented statistical association with the occurrence of urinary tract infection. Conclusion: It is observed that the incidence of urinary tract infection in the study was smaller than in other similar international and national studies, however this is an important world health problem for the older population, with impact on mortality of these individuals.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Analizar los aspectos epidemiológicos de infección del tracto urinario en ancianos con incontinencia urinaria, en residencias para ancianos de Belo Horizonte, Brasil. Método: Se realizó una cohorte del 1º de abril al 1º de octubre de 2015. Se realizó el estudio en dos residencias para ancianos de la ciudad de Belo Horizonte, del cual participaron 84 ancianos con incontinencia urinaria. Resultados: La incidencia acumulada de infección en el tracto urinario fue del 19% (IC 95%: 7,83-23,19) y la densidad de la incidencia fue de 3,6 casos/100 personas-mes por seguimiento. Las variables Bacteriuria y la residencia presentaron asociación estadística en la aparición de este tipo de infección. Conclusión: A pesar de que la incidencia de infección del tracto urinario en este estudio fue menor que en otros estudios nacionales e internacionales de mismo tema, es un grave problema de salud para los ancianos por todo el mundo, puesto que implica la mortalidad de ellos.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar aspectos epidemiológicos da infecção do trato urinário em pacientes idosos com incontinência urinária, residentes em instituições de longa permanência, de Belo Horizonte. Método: Coorte concorrente realizada no período de 01 de abril a 01 de outubro de 2015. O estudo foi realizado em duas instituições de longa permanência, na cidade de Belo Horizonte, MG, com 84 idosos incontinentes. Resultados: A incidência acumulada de infecção do trato urinário foi de 19% (IC 95%: 7,83-23,19) e a densidade de incidência foi de 3,6 casos/100 pessoas-mês de seguimento. As variáveis Bacteriúria e Instituição apresentaram associação estatística com a ocorrência de infecção do trato urinário. Conclusão: Observa-se que a incidência de infecção do trato urinário no estudo foi menor que em outros estudos nacionais e internacionais semelhantes, no entanto trata-se de um importante problema de saúde mundial para os idosos, com impacto na mortalidade desses indivíduos.

The emerging market for supplemental long term care insurance in Germany in the context of the 2013 Pflege-Bahr reform.

The growing cost of long term care is burdening many countries' health and social care systems, causing them to encourage individuals and families to protect themselves against the financial risk posed by long term care needs. Germany's public long-term care insurance program, which mandates coverage for most Germans, is well-known, but fewer are aware of Germany's growing voluntary, supplemental private long-term care insurance market. This paper discusses German policymakers' 2013 effort to expand it by subsidizing the purchase of qualified policies. We provide data on market expansions and the extent to which policy goals are being achieved, finding that public subsidies for purchasing supplemental policies boosted the market, although the effect of this stimulus diminished over time. Meanwhile, sales growth in the unsubsidized market appears to have slowed, despite design features that create incentives for lower-risk individuals to seek better deals there. Thus, although subsidies for cheap, low-benefit policies seem to have achieved the goal of market expansion, the overall impact and long-term sustainability of these products is unclear; conclusions about its impact are further muddied by significant expansions to Germany's core program. The German example reinforces the examples of the US and France private long term care insurance markets, to show how such products flourish best when supplementing a public program.