Abstract
[Objective] The purpose of this study was to use the classification and regression tree (CART) methodology to 1) create algorithm for approaching the appropriate factors in different stages, and 2) determine the cutoff values of the factors that should be intervened in secondary prevention project. [Methods] Data were collected using a survey held in Higashi-hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Basic information and the Kihon Checklists of the participants were extracted from a self-administered questionnaire. The CART methodology was used to examine the factors associated with the subjects of the secondary prevention project. [Results] In total, 2,565 participants were included in the analysis. The results of the CART methodology were as follows: the first factor was the presence or absence of subjective health, the second factors were the presence or absence of fall anxiety and BMI (> 20.8 or ≤ 20.8 kg/m2), and the third factors were the presence or absence of memory loss, the presence or absence of weight loss of more than 2 – 3 kg in 6 months, and the presence or absence of one fall incident in the past year. [Conclusions] The results of this study revealed that the good subjective health is the most important factor in avoiding becoming a subject of a secondary prevention project.
