Hericenone C attenuates the second phase of formalin-induced nociceptive behavior by suppressing the accumulation of CD11c-positive cells in the paw epidermis via phosphorylated P65.

Hericenone C is one of the most abundant secondary metabolites derived from Hericium erinaceus, under investigation for medicinal properties. Here, we report that Hericenone C inhibits the second phase of formalin-induced nociceptive behavior in mice. As the second phase is involved in inflammation, in a mechanistic analysis on cultured cells targeting NF-κB response element (NRE): luciferase (Luc)-expressing cells, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NRE::Luc luciferase activity was found to be significantly inhibited by Hericenone C. Phosphorylation of p65, which is involved in the inflammatory responses of the NF-κB signaling pathway, was also induced by LPS and significantly reduced by Hericenone C. Additionally, in mice, the number of CD11c-positive cells increased in the paw during the peak of the second phase of the formalin test, which decreased upon Hericenone C intake. Our findings confirm the possibility of Hericenone C as a novel therapeutic target for pain-associated inflammation.

Inhibition of G protein-coupled receptor 68 using homoharringtonine attenuates chronic kidney disease-associated cardiac impairment.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) induces cardiac inflammation and fibrosis and reduces survival. We previously demonstrated that G protein-coupled receptor 68 (GPR68) promotes cardiac inflammation and fibrosis in mice with 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6Nx) and patients with CKD. However, no method of GPR68 inhibition has been found that has potential for therapeutic application. Here, we report that Cephalotaxus harringtonia var. nana extract and homoharringtonine ameliorate cardiac inflammation and fibrosis under CKD by suppressing GPR68 function. Reagents that inhibit the function of GPR68 were explored by high-throughput screening using a medicinal plant extract library (8,008 species), and we identified an extract from Cephalotaxus harringtonia var. nana as a GPR68 inhibitor that suppresses inflammatory cytokine production in a GPR68 expression-dependent manner. Consumption of the extract inhibited inflammatory cytokine expression and cardiac fibrosis and improved the decreased survival attributable to 5/6Nx. Additionally, homoharringtonine, a cephalotaxane compound characteristic of C. harringtonia, inhibited inflammatory cytokine production. Homoharringtonine administration in drinking water alleviated cardiac fibrosis and improved heart failure and survival in 5/6Nx mice. A previously unknown effect of C. harringtonia extract and homoharringtonine was revealed in which GPR68-dependent inflammation and cardiac dysfunction were suppressed. Utilizing these compounds could represent a new strategy for treating GPR68-associated diseases, including CKD.

Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on regular clinic visits and medication prescriptions among people with diabetes: Retrospective cohort analysis of health care claims.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on regular clinic visits among people with diabetes and to elucidate the factors related to visit patterns among these patients during the pandemic. This was a longitudinal study using anonymized insurance claims data from the Joint Health Insurance Society in Tokyo from October 2017 to September 2020. First, we identified patients with diabetes who were fully enrolled in the health plan from fiscal year 2017 until September 2020 and who were regularly receiving glucose-lowering medications (every 1-3 months) from October 2017 to September 2018. We divided follow-up into the pre-pandemic period (October 2018 to March 2020) and the pandemic period (April 2020 to September 2020). A multilevel logistic regression model was used to determine the risks of delayed clinic visits/medication prescriptions (i.e., >3 months after a previous visit/prescription) during the pandemic period. We identified 1118 study participants. The number of delayed clinic visits/medication prescriptions during the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods was 188/3354 (5.6%) and 125/1118 (11.2%), respectively. There was a significant increase in delayed clinic visits during the pandemic (adjusted odds ratio 3.68 (95% confidence interval 2.24 to 6.04, P < .001), even after controlling for confounding factors. We also found a significant interaction between sex and delayed visits; women had significantly fewer clinic visits during the COVID-19 pandemic than men. We clarified the relationship of the COVID-19 pandemic with delays in regular clinic visits and medication prescriptions among people with diabetes. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic differed between men and women.

Association between pulse pressure and progression of chronic kidney disease.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between pulse pressure (PP) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression among the general population in Japan. We conducted a population-based cohort study of the residents of Iki Island, Nagasaki, Japan, from 2008 to 2018. We identified 1042 participants who had CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or the presence of proteinuria) at baseline. Cox's proportional hazard model was used to evaluate the association between PP and progression of CKD. During a 4.66-year mean follow-up, there were 241 cases of CKD progression (incident rate: 49.8 per 1000 person-years). A significant increase existed in CKD progression per 10 mmHg of PP elevation, even when adjusted for confounding factors [adjusted hazard ratio 1.17 (1.06-1.29) p < 0.001]. Similar results were obtained even after dividing PP into quartiles [Q2: 1.14 (0.74-1.76), Q3: 1.35 (0.88-2.06), Q4: 1.87 (1.23-2.83) p = 0.003 for trend]. This trend did not change significantly irrespective of baseline systolic or diastolic blood pressures. PP remained a potential predictive marker, especially for eGFR decline. In conclusion, we found a significant association between PP and CKD progression. PP might be a potential predictive marker for CKD progression.

How do patients with chronic illnesses respond to a public health crisis? Evidence from diabetic patients in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How do people change their healthcare behavior when a public health crisis occurs? Within a year of its emergence, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has gradually infiltrated our lives and altered our lifestyles, including our healthcare behaviors. In Japan, which faces China across the East China Sea and accepted 924,800 Chinese tourists in January 2020, the emergence and spread of COVID-19 provides a unique opportunity to study people's reactions and adaptations to a pandemic. Patients with chronic illnesses who require regular doctor visits are particularly affected by such crises. We focused on diabetic patients whose delay in routine healthcare invites life-threatening complications and examined how their patterns of doctor visits changed and how demographic, socioeconomic, and vital factors disparately affected this process. We relied on the insurance claims data of a health insurance association in Tokyo. By using panel data of diabetic patients from April 2018 to September 2020, we performed visual investigations and conditional logistic regressions controlling for all time-invariant individual characteristics. Contrary to the general notion that the change in healthcare behavior correlates with the actual spread of the pandemic, the graphical and statistical results both showed that diabetic patients started reducing their doctor visits during the early stage of the pandemic. Furthermore, a substantial decrease in doctor visits was observed in women, and large to moderate reductions were seen in patients who take insulin and are of advanced age, who are at high risk of developing severe COVID-19. By contrast, no differentiated effect was found in terms of income status. We further investigated why a change in pattern occurred for each subgroup. The patterns of routine healthcare revealed by this study can contribute to the improvement of communication with the target population, the delivery of necessary healthcare resources, and the provision of appropriate responses to future pandemics. (299 words).

Impact of the 2014 coinsurance rate revision for the elderly on healthcare resource utilization in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Cost sharing, including copayment and coinsurance, is often used to contain medical expenditure by decreasing unnecessary or excessive use of healthcare resources. Previous studies in Japan have reported the effects of a coinsurance rate reduction for healthcare from 30 to 10% on the demand for healthcare among 70-74-year-old individuals. However, the coinsurance rate for this age group has recently increased from 10 to 20%. This study aimed to estimate the economic impact of coinsurance rate revision on healthcare resource utilization. METHODS: We collected claims data from beneficiaries of the municipality National Health Insurance and the Japanese Health Insurance Association in Fukuoka Prefecture. We categorized subjects born between March 2, 1944 and April 1, 1944 into the 20% coinsurance rate reduction group and those born between April 2, 1944 and May 1, 1944 into the 10% reduction group. An interrupted time-series analysis for multiple groups was employed to compare healthcare resource utilization trends before and after coinsurance rate reduction at 70 years. RESULTS: The 10% coinsurance rate reduction led to a significant increase in healthcare expenditure for outpatient care. The 20% reduction group showed a significantly sharper increase in healthcare expenditure for outpatient care than the 10% reduction group. Similarly, the 10% coinsurance group significantly increased in the number of ambulatory visits. The 20% coinsurance rate reduction group had more frequent ambulatory care visits than the 10% reduction group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that increasing the coinsurance rate among the elderly would reduce outpatient healthcare resource utilization; however, it would not necessarily reduce overall healthcare resource utilization.

Risk of Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation According to Sex in Patients Aged Younger Than 75 Years: A Large-Scale, Observational Study Using Real-World Data.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether women have a higher risk of stroke than men. This study aimed to clarify the effects of a sex difference on the risk of ischaemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: Health check and insurance claims data were used of people who were aged <75 years from 2005 to 2017 in Japan. Patients with AF who were not on anticoagulation therapy were identified. After excluding patients with artificial valves (n=28), haematological disease (n=1,124), aged ≤20 years (n=207), and taking anticoagulant therapy (n=11,848), 9,733 remained for inclusion into the study. The primary outcome was hospital admission due to ischaemic stroke. RESULTS: Of the 9,733 participants, 7,079 (72.7%) were men. The mean age of women (54.4 years) was significantly higher than that of men (53.2 years). During a mean 2.5-year follow-up period, 143 ischaemic stroke events occurred. Female sex was not associated with ischaemic stroke (adjusted hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.13 [0.78-1.66]). When stratified using the CHA2DS2-VASc score, the annual incidence of ischaemic stroke was similarly low among women with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 1 (0.8%) and men with a score of 0 (0.7%). The incidence of ischaemic stroke increased with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 2 in women and 1 in men. CONCLUSIONS: In this large-scale, real-world study of patients with AF, the risk of ischaemic stroke among those aged <75 years was comparable between women and men. These findings are consistent with the current guidelines, which do not recommend anticoagulant therapy for women with no other risk factors (CHA2DS2-VASc score of 1).

Residual risks of ischaemic stroke and systemic embolism among atrial fibrillation patients with anticoagulation: large-scale real-world data (F-CREATE project).

OBJECTIVE: Among patients with atrial fibrillation, the risks of ischaemic stroke and systemic embolism (IS/SE) are high even with effective anticoagulation. Using large-scale, real-world data from Japan, this study aims to clarify residual risks of IS/SE attributable to modifiable risk factors among patients with atrial fibrillation who are taking oral anticoagulants. METHODS: The study design we employed was a retrospective cohort. Health check-ups and insurance claims data of Japanese health insurance companies were accumulated from January 2005 to June 2017. We identified 11 848 participants with atrial fibrillation who were on oral anticoagulants during the study period. We set the modifiable risk factors as hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to obtain the effects of the risk factors for IS/SE. RESULTS: During an average of 3 years' follow-up, 200 cases of IS/SE occurred (incidence rate 0.57 per 100 person-years). In multivariable analyses, older age (65-74 vs <65 years; adjusted HR 2.02 (95% CI 1.49 to 2.73)), hypertension (adjusted HR 1.41 (1.04 to 1.92)) and dyslipidaemia (adjusted HR 1.46 (1.07 to 1.98)) were significantly associated with increased risk of IS/SE. Percentage of IS/SE risk attributable to modifiable risk factors (hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia) was 30.0% (16.1% to 41.6%). CONCLUSION: Among patients with atrial fibrillation on anticoagulant therapy, approximately one-third of the residual risks were estimated to be attributable to modifiable risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia.

Increased Incident Ischemic Stroke Risk in Advanced Kidney Disease: A Large-Scale Real-World Data Study.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence using real-world data is sparse regarding the effects of oral anticoagulants (OACs) among patients with kidney disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of kidney disease on ischemic stroke (IS) or systemic embolism (SE) among patients taking OAC, using large-scale real-world data in Japan. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study using claims data and health checkup data from health insurance associations in Japan, from January 2005 to June 2017. We enrolled 21,581 patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF). Of the total population, 11,848 (54.9%) patients were taking OAC. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the effect of kidney disease on IS/SE with or without OAC. RESULTS: During follow-up, 208 participants who were not taking OAC (mean follow-up 2.6 years) and 200 who were taking OAC (mean follow-up 3.0 years) experienced IS/SE. The % IS/SE incidence rates with and without kidney disease were 2.42/person-year and 0.63/person-year in the total population, 3.66/person-year and 0.76/person-year in the group without OAC use, and 1.52/person-year and 0.55/person-year in patients with OAC use, respectively. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of kidney disease for IS/SE were high, irrespective of OAC, even after adjustment: adjusted HR 2.62 (95% CI: 1.72-3.99) without OAC and adjusted HR 2.03 (95% CI: 1.20-3.44) with OAC; p = 0.193 for interaction between no OAC and OAC. Although bleeding risk was also high for kidney disease irrespective of OAC use (HR 2.93 [95% CI: 2.27-3.77] in the total population, HR 3.08 [95% CI: 2.15-4.43] in the group without OAC, and HR 2.73 [95% CI: 1.90-3.91] in the group with OAC use), net clinical benefit indicated that the benefit of OAC use exceeded the risk of bleeding: HR 4.50 (95% CI: 0.76-8.23) among those with kidney disease and HR 0.35 (95% CI: 0.04-0.66) among those without kidney disease. CONCLUSION: Although we found that OAC use was effective and recommended for patients with AF, advanced kidney disease is still an independent risk factor for IS/SE, even in patients taking OAC. Physicians should be aware of this risk and strictly control modifiable risk factors, regardless of OAC use.

Risks of Bleeding and Stroke Based on CHA2DS2-VASc Scores in Japanese Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Large-Scale Observational Study Using Real-World Data.

Background This large-scale observational study on negative events in a real-world setting investigated Japanese patients with atrial fibrillation who were not on anticoagulants. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of ischemic stroke and bleeding events (intracranial hemorrhage, gastrointestinal bleeding, others) based on CHA2DS2-VASc scores in Japanese patients with atrial fibrillation who were not anticoagulated. Methods and Results We used health checkups and insurance claim data from a Japanese insurance organization. Altogether, 9733 atrial fibrillation patients were not prescribed anticoagulation during their follow-up periods. Patients' risk levels were defined by their CHA2DS2-VASc scores (range 0-≥3): Men with scores of 0, 1, or ≥2 and women with scores of 1, 2, or ≥3 were considered at low, intermediate, or high risk, respectively. Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the association between the CHA2DS2-VASc-determined risk and the incidence of ischemic stroke and intracranial, gastrointestinal, and other bleeding. The mean 2.5-year follow-up revealed 143 ischemic strokes and 332 bleeding events. Annual event rates were 0.58% for ischemic stroke and 1.17% for total bleeding events. Annual incidence of ischemic stroke increased with elevated predicted risks based on CHA2DS2-VASc scores: 0.18% for low-risk, 0.44% intermediate-risk, and 1.29% high-risk groups (P<0.001 for trend). Annual incidences of total bleeding also increased with elevated predicted risks: 0.51% for low-risk, 1.28% intermediate-risk, and 2.02% high-risk groups (P<0.001 for trend). Conclusions Risks of ischemic stroke and bleeding events were high, particularly among those with high CHA2DS2-VASc scores.

Association between income levels and irregular physician visits after a health checkup, and its consequent effect on glycemic control among employees: A retrospective propensity score-matched cohort study.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of income levels on physician visit patterns and to quantify the consequent impact of irregular physician visits on glycemic control among employees' health insurance beneficiaries in Japan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We obtained specific health checkup data of untreated diabetes patients from the Fukuoka branch of the Japanese Health Insurance Association. We selected 2,981 insurance beneficiaries and classified 650 and 2,331 patients into, respectively, the regular visit and irregular visit group. We implemented propensity score matching to select an adequate control group. RESULTS: Compared with those with a standard monthly income <$2,000 (US$1 = ¥100), those with a higher monthly income were less likely to have irregular visits; $2,000-2,999: odds ratio 0.74 (95% confidence interval 0.56-0.98), $3,000-3,999: odds ratio 0.63 (95% confidence interval 0.46-0.87) and ≥$5,000: odds ratio 0.58 (95% confidence interval 0.39-0.86). After propensity score matching and adjusting for covariates, the irregular visit group tended to have poor glycemic control; increased glycated hemoglobin ≥0.5: odds ratio 1.90 (95% confidence interval 1.30-2.77), ≥1.0: odds ratio 2.75 (95% confidence interval 1.56-4.82) and ≥20% relatively: odds ratio 3.18 (95% confidence interval 1.46-6.92). CONCLUSIONS: We clarified that there was a significant relationship between income and irregular visits, and this consequently resulted in poor glycemic control. These findings would be useful for more effective disease management.

Comparison of regional with general anesthesia on mortality and perioperative length of stay in older patients after hip fracture surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether anesthetic technique is associated with 30- or 90-day mortality and perioperative length of stay (LOS). DESIGN: We used a retrospective cohort design using a healthcare insurance claims database. SETTING: The Fukuoka Prefecture's claims database of older patients who underwent hip fracture surgery under general or regional (spinal or epidural) anesthesia from April 2012 to March 2016 was used for analyses. PARTICIPANTS: The database under analyses contained 16 125 participants of hip fracture surgery under general or regional anesthesia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: We measured 30- and 90-day mortalities and perioperative LOS. RESULTS: In a propensity score-matched cohort, we found no significant differences in 30- and 90-day mortalities after adjusting for confounding factors. The reconverted perioperative LOS for the general and regional anesthesia groups was, respectively, 29.7 (29.1-30.4) and 28.0 (27.4-28.6) days in the matched cohort. Therefore, the perioperative LOS in the regional anesthesia group was significantly shorter by 1.7 days than in the general anesthesia group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the use of regional anesthesia was not associated with 30- or 90-day mortality, but it was associated with slightly shorter perioperative LOS. Since Japan has much longer LOS than other countries, our findings have implications for more efficient healthcare resource utilization and quality assurance in geriatric care.

Surveillance of First-Generation H1-Antihistamine Use for Older Patients with Dementia in Japan: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the rate of first-generation H1-antihistamines use for older adults with dementia in Japan. METHODS: The study design was retrospective cohort using claims data between fiscal years 2010 and 2013. Subjects were 75 years or older, diagnosed with dementia, and given H1-antihistamines orally during the study period after being diagnosed with dementia. We investigated the cumulative number of oral H1-antihistamines administered and the relationship between first-generation H1-antihistamine use and each explanatory variable using crude and adjusted odds ratio. RESULTS: The cumulative total for use of first-generation H1-antihistamine for older adults with dementia accounted for 32.1% of all antihistamine medication. The majority of first-generation H1-antihistamine prescriptions were indicated for cold treatment. Those with upper respiratory infection or asthma had a significantly positive relationship with first-generation H1-antihistamine use. CONCLUSION: The study showed that first-generation H1-antihistamine drugs were highly prescribed in older adults with dementia in Japan.

Effects of gastrostomy fee schedule revision on artificial nutrition routes among older people with dementia in Japan: A time series observational study.

AIM: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the 2014 Japanese fee schedule revision on trends in artificial nutrition routes, including gastrostomy, nasogastric tube and parenteral nutrition, among older people with dementia, using time series analysis. METHODS: The study used claim data in Japan submitted to Fukuoka Late Elders' Health Insurance from fiscal year 2010 to fiscal year 2016. We identified older people with dementia provided for the first time with artificial nutrition via gastrostomy, nasogastric tube or central venous line and aggregated their data by month. Interrupted time series analyses were used to examine trends in artificial nutrition routes over time. RESULTS: The numbers of older people with dementia receiving nutrition via gastrostomy, nasogastric tube and parenterally declined consistently. The slopes for pre-revision trends in gastrostomy, nasogastric tube and parenteral nutrition procedures were all significantly negative in the interrupted time series analyses. The post-revision trends in gastrostomy and parenteral nutrition continuously had significant negative slopes. In contrast, the significant negative trend in nasogastric tube procedures in the pre-revision period had disappeared during the post-revision period. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that the fee schedule revision had limited impact on gastrostomy and parenteral nutrition. However the trend for nasogastric tube was ambiguous; hence, sustainable surveillance is required for evidence-based health policy. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1405-1409.

Association between dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and urinary tract infection in elderly patients: A retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are a new class of antidiabetic drugs. Although they have been reported to increase the risk of infection, the findings are controversial. Given that urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in the elderly, we conducted a retrospective cohort study by using health care insurance claims data, to elucidate the association between the DPP-4 inhibitors and the incidence of UTI in latter-stage elderly patients. METHODS: We analyzed 25,111 Japanese patients aged 75 years and older between the fiscal years 2011 and 2016. Patients using DPP-4 inhibitors and sulfonylureas (SUs) were matched at a 1:1 ratio using propensity scoring. The Incidence rate ratio (IRR) of UTI was compared between users of SUs and users of DPP-4 inhibitors by Poisson regression. Moreover, subgroup analyses stratified by sex were conducted to evaluate whether the combination of prostatic hyperplasia and DPP-4 inhibitors is associated with the incidence of UTI in male patients. RESULTS: The use of DPP-4 inhibitors was associated with an increased risk of UTI (adjusted IRR 1.23, 95% CI [1.04-1.45]). After propensity score matching, the association remained significant (adjusted IRR 1.28, 95% CI [1.05-1.56]). Moreover, elderly male patients with prostatic hyperplasia who received DPP-4 inhibitors had a higher risk of UTI than SU users without prostatic hyperplasia (Matched: crude IRR 2.90, 95% CI [1.78-4.71]; adjusted IRR 2.32, 95% CI [1.40-3.84]). CONCLUSIONS: The long-term use of DPP-4 inhibitors by elderly patients, particularly male patients with prostatic hyperplasia, may increase the risk of UTI.

Association Between Financial Incentives for Regional Care Coordination and Health Care Resource Utilization Among Older Patients after Femoral Neck Fracture Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using a Claims Database.

The incidence rates of hip fracture have been increasing in Japan. Length of stay among hip fracture patients in Japan is much longer than other developed countries, and the Japanese government introduced financial incentives for regionally coordinated femoral neck fracture care to reduce health care resource utilization. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the financial incentives reduce health care resource utilization among patients 75 years or older with femoral neck fracture in Japan. Claims data from the Fukuoka Prefecture Regional Association for Late-Stage Healthcare for Older People were analyzed for the period from April 2010 to March 2016. The authors identified 4641 eligible subjects after femoral neck fracture surgery, and categorized them into groups based on care pathways: coordinated care, integrated care, and other. Length of stay by care phase and total charges were used as measures of health care resource utilization. The models showed that coordinated and integrated care were significantly associated with shorter length of stay during perioperative care: coordinated care, multiplicative effect, 0.90 (P < 0.001); integrated care, 0.77 (P < 0.001). However, only integrated care was associated with shorter rehabilitation and overall length of stay: 0.66 (P < 0.001) in rehabilitation; 0.70 (P < 0.001) in overall duration. Integrated care also was associated with lower total charges: 0.70 (P < 0.001). Current financial incentives for regionally coordinated femoral neck fracture care do not affect health care resource utilization. Further health care reforms should be implemented to promote effective regional care coordination in Japan.

Impact of financial incentives for inter-provider care coordination on health-care resource utilization among elderly acute stroke patients.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of inter-provider care coordination on health-care resource utilization among elderly acute stroke patients. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study using health-care insurance claims data. SETTING: Claims data of the Fukuoka Prefecture Wide-Area Association of Latter-Stage Elderly Healthcare. PARTICIPANTS: About, 6409 patients aged 75 years or older admitted for acute stroke and moved to rehabilitation wards from 1 April 2010 to 30 September 2015. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Lengths of stay (LOS) and total charge (TC) were evaluated according to three groups of care pathways (coordinated care, integrated care and other pathways). RESULTS: Compared with the other care pathway, the coordinated care groups had significantly shorter LOS of 2.0 days in acute ischemic stroke care; they had 2.5 days shorter LOS in hemorrhagic stroke care. However, there were no significant differences in rehabilitation care LOS and TC. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a payment system for care coordination is inappropriate since it was not associated with a reduction in overall health-care resource utilization. Further, health-care system reform is necessary to improve care continuity across multiple health-care institutions in Japan.

Investigation into the causes of indwelling urethral catheter implementation and its effects on clinical outcomes and health care resources among dementia patients with pneumonia: A retrospective cohort study.

There is a possibility that unnecessary treatments and low-quality medical care, such as inappropriate indwelling urethral catheter use, are being provided to older Japanese individuals.The aim of this study was to investigate contextual effects relating to indwelling urethral catheters in older people with dementia and to clarify the effects of indwelling urethral catheter use on patients' mortality, length of stay (LOS), and health care spending. This retrospective cohort study involved 4501 male and female Japanese participants. Those who were aged 75 or older with dementia and had a primary diagnosis of acute lower respiratory disease with antibiotics administered during hospitalization were eligible for inclusion. Patient mortality, LOS, and total charge during hospitalization were the main study outcomes. This study showed that indwelling urethral catheter use was significantly associated with higher mortality, longer LOS, and higher total charge for hospitalization. The pattern of indwelling urethral catheter use was clustered by care facility level. Physician density was significantly associated with indwelling urethral catheter use; the relationship was not linear but U-shaped, such that the approximate median had the lowest rate of urethral catheter use and this increased gradually toward both lower and higher physician densities. Our study found considerable variation in indwelling urethral catheter use between care facilities in older people with dementia. Additionally, indwelling urethral catheter use was related to poor outcomes. Based on these findings, we consider there to be an urgent need for constructing a framework to measure, report on, and promote the improvement of care quality for older individuals in Japan.

The effect of diabetes with pharmacotherapy for breast cancer on care resource use.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of diabetes with pharmacotherapy-treated breast cancer on care resource use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was designed as a single institutional retrospective cohort study using hospital administrative data. The subjects were 152 patients admitted to a hospital from 2008 to 2012 diagnosed with breast cancer, and who underwent pharmacotherapy. We identified diabetes group and nondiabetes group in addition to other variables and quantified the effects of diabetes with breast cancer patients undergoing pharmacotherapy on care resource use, using a multilevel linear regression model. RESULTS: Diabetes was significantly correlated to both longer length of stay (coefficient standard error: 0.75 [0.19], P < 0.001) and higher total hospital charge (0.72 [0.18], P < 0.001), controlled for age, pharmacotherapeutic agent, steroid use, admission route, procedures, and postpharmacotherapy events. CONCLUSION: This study showed that diabetes itself is a risk factor for greater care resource use after controlling for confounding factors. Pharmacotherapy for breast cancer may influence poor glycemic control, thus leading to greater care resource use. Early detection and careful monitoring of diabetes are essential in malignancy to eliminate this burden on the health care system.

Investigation of the Existence of Supplier-Induced Demand in use of Gastrostomy Among Older Adults: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

The aim of this study is to clarify whether there is small area variation in the use of gastrostomy that is explained by hospital physician density, so as to detect the existence of supplier-induced demand (SID).The study design is a retrospective cohort using claim data of Fukuoka Late Elders' Health Insurance, submitted from 2010 to 2013. Study participants included 51,785 older adults who had been diagnosed with eating difficulties. We designated use of gastrostomy as an event. Multilevel logistic analyses were then used to investigate the existence of SID.After controlling for patient factors, we found significant regional level variance in gastrectomy use (median odds ratio [MOR]: 1.72, 1.37-2.51). Hospital physician density was significantly positively related with gastrostomy (adjusted OR of hospital physician density: 1.75, 1.25-2.45; P < 0.001). MORs were largely reduced for the input variable of hospital physician density.We found that the small area variation in use of gastrostomy among older adults could be explained by hospital physician density, which might indicate the existence of SID.