Evaluation of healthcare and long-term care service utilization and prognosis in patients with Parkinson's disease

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K19242
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 58080:Gerontological nursing and community health nursing-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Fujita Takako 九州大学, 医学研究院, 助教 (00822511)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: パーキンソン病 / レセプトデータ / 介護保険データ / 医療介護費 / 入院 / 睡眠薬

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study evaluated the impact of regular use of healthcare and long-term care services on hospitalization and the impact of hypnotics on fractures associated with falls in older adults with a new diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. The study found that more frequent visits to the hospital significantly reduced hospitalization days and healthcare costs. It also found that about half of the patients were prescribed hypnotics. In particular, a high percentage of patients were prescribed benzodiazepines, which are not even recommended by guidelines, and even hypnotics that were not alerted by guidelines were found to significantly increase the risk of femoral fracture. These results were presented at national and international conferences and published in international journals.

Free Research Field

公衆衛生看護学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、パーキンソン病患者の定期的な受診が生活の質のために重要であることが明らかとなった。そのため、在宅療養を支援する看護職等は、適切なタイミングで確実に受診ができるように支援を行う必要がある。また、睡眠薬の処方については、比較的安全とされる薬剤であってもパーキンソン病患者にとっては骨折のリスクが増加することがわかったため、患者が在宅での生活が続けられるよう他の方法を検討するなどが必要であることが示唆された。