Group participation and the risk of functional decline in later life

A Prospective Cohort Study

Dados Bibliográficos

ID13775673
AutoresMakoto Kaneko (0000-0002-3100-2477, Yokohama City University, Kanagawa, Japan, autor correspondente), Fumihiro Saitoh (Japanese Health and Welfare Co-operative Federation, Tokyo, Japan), Hisato Hara (0000-0002-2764-0353, Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare), Hotaka Hara (Japanese Health and Welfare Co-operative Federation, Tokyo, Japan), Tadashi Motomura (0000-0001-9149-0153, Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare), Takako Motomura (Japanese Health and Welfare Co-operative Federation, Tokyo, Japan), Kumiko Maruyama (Japanese Health and Welfare Co-operative Federation, Tokyo, Japan), Yuruko OKAMOTO (Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare), Yumiko Okamoto (Japanese Health and Welfare Co-operative Federation, Tokyo, Japan), Hisako Kuribayashi (Japanese Health and Welfare Co-operative Federation, Tokyo, Japan), Kumiko Imai (Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare), Kouichi Imai (Japanese Health and Welfare Co-operative Federation, Tokyo, Japan), Kyoichi Kondo (0000-0003-0076-816X, Chiba University)
Ano2025
Volume62
Páginas469580251348822-469580251348822
Data de publicação2025-07-23
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoINQUIRY The Journal of Health Care Organization Provision and Financing (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0046-9580 • E-ISSN: 1945-7243
EditoraSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00469580251348822
PMID40697119
OpenAlexW4412588403
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas10

Although group participation benefits older adults' health, its effects may vary by group type. The Japanese Health and Welfare Co-operative (Hew Co-op) organises peer-led group participation called 'Han Kai' meetings to promote health literacy, but the impact of Han Kai participation on health indicators remains unexplored. This study aimed to examine whether the frequency and duration of Han Kai participation were associated with risk of functional disability. This was a prospective cohort study conducted in Japan between 2018 and 2022. The participants were Han Kai members aged ≥ 65 years who did not receive a Long-Term Care certification. The exposure variables were the frequency of participation in Han Kai per year and the years of participation in 2018. The main outcome was a risk assessment scale score for predicting incident functional disabilities in 2022. Multivariate linear regression was conducted to adjust for covariates. In the study, 2359 older adults participated. Overall, the frequency of Han Kai participation was not significantly associated with disability risk scores. However, participants with ≥10 years of involvement had significantly lower scores (β = -1.95, 95% CI: -3.64 to -0.26, P = .024). Among those aged ≥ 75 years, both frequency and duration showed a significant inverse association with risk scores, with a dose-response relationship. Sustained participation in peer-led group meetings such as Han Kai may help mitigate functional decline, particularly among the oldest age groups. These findings support policies that promote long-term community engagement as part of healthy ageing strategies

Cohort · Cohort study · Multivariate analysis · Prospective cohort study · Chronic Disease Management Strategies · Demography · Health disparities and outcomes · Health Literacy and Information Accessibility · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Gerontology