地域在住高齢者の3年後の要介護状態の関連要因に関する研究―社会関連性と生活習慣に焦点を当てて

Factors Related to Change in Care Requirement in the Elderly over a Three Year Period

要旨

　目的：本研究は，地域に在住する高齢者の社会関連性および生活習慣と3年後の要介護状態との関連を明らかにすることを目的とした．

　方法：対象は大都市近郊農村の65歳以上の在宅居住者であり，戸別訪問による配票留置の記名自記式質問紙を用いた．有効回答は，調査両年（2002年，2005年）に回答し，かつ両年の要介護状態不明者を除く，601名であった．調査内容は，年齢，性別，要介護状態，罹患，ADL，社会関連性指標，生活習慣であった．

　結果：1）社会関連性指標項目では「期待役割の遂行」「興味対象あり」「生活の工夫」「積極的に取り組む」「社会貢献の可能性」が，また生活習慣項目では「栄養バランスの配慮」「運動の実施」が，いずれも乏しい場合，3年後の要介護状態と有意に関連していた．2）年齢，性別，要介護状態（基準年），罹患，ADLを調整変数として投入した多重ロジスティック回帰分析では，社会関連性指標項目のうち「期待役割の遂行」と「社会貢献の可能性」が，3年後の要介護状態と有意な関連を示した．

　結論：地域在住高齢者の日常生活における社会との関わりの促進が心身機能の維持増進につながる根拠を踏まえ，今後の介護予防マネジメント等への活用が期待される．

Abstract

　Objectives: This study was designed to examine longitudinally the relationship between social interaction, health habits and care requirements in the elderly in a three year period.

　Methods: The participants were all 65 years or older who lived in a farming community near major urban centers in Japan. The 657 participants answered the questionnaire in 2002 and 2005. The analysis was based on the 601 participants who completed the data in both years. The contents of the questionnaire were social interaction (using the “Index of Social Interaction”), health habits, physical function, health status, age and gender.

　Results: 1) For social interaction and health habits, “Having an active role,” “Having a hobby,” “Life style motivation,” “Active approach,” “Feeling of importance,” “A well-balanced diet,” and “Physical exercise” were significantly related to physical deterioration. 2) Multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for baseline age, gender, physical function, and health status indicated that “Having an active role” and “Feeling of importance” were related to reduced physical deterioration.

　Conclusion: These findings show that the promotion of relationships within society for the elderly leads to the maintenance and improvement in the functioning of the mind and body. It is hoped that this research will be used for care prevention management in the future.