Participation in health and frailty check-ups predicted functional outcomes and mortality in older adults in Japan

Aim: This study aimed to examine the association between participation in health and frailty check-ups and functional outcomes and mortality, controlling for physical and cognitive function, or self-rated health among Japanese community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A cohort of 5093 participants aged >= 65 years (not disabled or institutionalized), completed the baseline survey in April 2013. Functional outcomes and mortality served as follow-up data from April 2013 to March 2018. However, the data did not include events, such as certified cases for long-term care and death for 12 months from the start of follow-up. We collated data on the use of the annual health check system in 2012 and frailty checkups using the postal Kihon Checklist in 2013. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to determine the association between participation in the check-ups, and functional outcomes and mortality, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Long-term care and mortality risks were significantly lower among those aged <75 years who used health screening than among those who did not, despite adjusting for confounding factors (hazard ratios: 2.1-3.5). In those aged >= 75 years, the risk for long-term care was lower in individuals participating in both health and frailty check-ups and in those who participated in the frailty check-ups only, than in those who did not participate. Conclusions: The association between participation in health and frailty check-ups and adverse health outcomes differed among the age groups, indicating the potential benefit of health and frailty check-ups in older adults.