Factors associated with the level of disability in elderly adults based on the Japanese long-term care insurance system

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with the level of disability in elderly adults based on the Japanese long-term care insurance system. Methods: The participants included 3,198 frail elderly subjects (mean age: 82.0±6.45). The slightly disabled group, with a support level in the long-term care insurance system, comprised 1,129 elderly adults, and the moderately disabled group, with a care level of 1 or 2 in the long-term care insurance system, comprised 2,208 elderly adults who received day-care services. The following parameters were evaluated: grip strength, chair stand test 5-times (CST), one-leg standing with eyes open (OLS), timed "up & go" (TUG), walking speed, the mental status questionnaire (MSQ) score and functional independence measures (FIM). The participants were categorized into two groups based on the 13 motor subscales of the FIM (FIM-M): the activity of daily living (ADL) independent group, who scored 6 points or higher on all ADL measurements, and the ADL care need group, who scored 5 points or under on at least one item in all ADL measurements. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationships between the long-term care insurance level and the potential correlates. Results: The multiple logistic regression model indicated that gender, grip strength and the MSQ and FIM-M scores were significantly associated with the long-term care insurance level (p