Study of clarifying incidence of lifestyle-related diseases and related complications and its medical expenses using government-managed health insurance data

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: In this study, analysis was performed with the objective of clarifying the incidence of lifestyle-related diseases and related complications and its medical expenses. METHODS: A random sample population of people insured under government-managed health insurance in Mie Prefecture, Japan, who had undergone annual health examinations in 1993, 1998, and 2003, and who had incurred medical costs in 2003 was analyzed. The relationship between the results of health examinations in 1993 and medical costs in 2003 was investigated by examining 2,165 individuals whose data were available. The relationship between medical costs and risk factors including diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipemia, cerebrovascular disease, and ischemic heart disease was examined by analysis of covariance adjusted by sex and age. RESULTS: There was a higher doctor consultation rate for diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipemia after 10 years among people presenting with high Body Mass Index, blood pressure, serum lipid, and plasma glucose. CONCLUSIONS: It was shown that there is a relationship of having lifestyle-related diseases and related complications with doctor consultation rate and medical expenditure.