The Significant Association between Health Examination Results and Population Health: A Cross-Sectional Ecological Study Using a Nation-Wide Health Checkup Database in Japan

Yukinori Nagakura, Hideaki Kato, Satoshi Asano, Yasuhiro Jinno and Shigeharu Tanei
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Yukinori Nagakura: School of Pharmacy at Fukuoka, International University of Health and Welfare, 137-1 Enokizu, Okawa 831-8501, Fukuoka, Japan
Hideaki Kato: School of Pharmacy, International University of Health and Welfare, 2600-1 Kitakanemaru, Ohtawara 324-8501, Tochigi, Japan
Satoshi Asano: School of Pharmacy, International University of Health and Welfare, 2600-1 Kitakanemaru, Ohtawara 324-8501, Tochigi, Japan
Yasuhiro Jinno: School of Pharmacy at Fukuoka, International University of Health and Welfare, 137-1 Enokizu, Okawa 831-8501, Fukuoka, Japan
Shigeharu Tanei: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nihon Pharmaceutical University, 10281 Komuro, Ina-machi, Kitaadachi-gun, Saitama 362-0806, Japan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-14

Abstract: In Japan, population health with life expectancy (LE) and healthy life expectancy (HALE) as indicators varies across the 47 prefectures (administrative regions). This study investigates how health examination results, including attitude toward improving life habits, are associated with population health. The association between health checkup variables and summary population health outcomes (i.e., life expectancy and healthy life expectancy) was investigated using a cross-sectional ecological design with prefectures as the unit of analysis. The medical records, aggregated by prefecture, gender, and age in the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan (NDB) Open Data Japan, were used as health checkup variables. Body weight, blood pressure, liver enzymes, drinking habits, smoking habits, diabetes, serum lipids, and answers to questions regarding attitude toward improving health habits were significantly correlated to population health outcomes. Multiple regression analysis also revealed significant influence of these variables on population health. This study highlights that health examination results, including attitude toward improving health habits, are positively associated with population health. Consequently, implementing measures to improve health habits in response to the examination results could help the population maintain a healthy life.

Keywords: National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan (NDB) Open Data Japan; health checkup results; life expectancy; healthy life expectancy; population health; health habit improvement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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