奈良県における市町村別平均寿命と地域特性に関する考察

Abstract

Introduction : Life expectancies are increasing in Japan. The national average has reached 86.4 years for females and 79.6 years for males. Accompanied with social aging, disparities in life expectancies were observed between urban and rural areas. The disparities in life expectancy decreased for females (from 2.9 to 2.5) but increased for males (from 2.3 to 3.6) from 2000 to 2005. Methods : This is an ecological study analyzing the municipal data for life expectancies and social indicators in Nara Prefecture, located in central Japan. Social indicators include municipal aging rates, percentages of households comprising a single elderly person, financial indices, visiting rates for health check-ups, the number of hospitals, and long-term care facilities. Results : Pearson's correlation analyses and regression analyses clarified that individual incomes were strongly associated with life expectancies for both sexes (Male : Pearson's r=0.651, Female : r=0.529). The visiting rates for health check-ups and number of beds of long-term facilities were significantly associated with male life expectancies by a regression analysis (adjusted R square=0.732, p＜0.001). Conclusion : Municipal life expectancies were significantly associated with social indicators. Healthcare policies should be formulated while considering the effects of geographic and social conditions.