Characteristics of Physical and Mental Function by Household Structure and Gender among Outpatient Rehabilitation Users

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of single-person households and married-couple households by classifying day-care center rehabilitation users according to household structure and gender, and comparing their physical and mental functions. The following characteristics were found in the comparison of measurements by household structure.Elderly persons in single-person households showed significantly lower grip strength and skeletal muscle mass. Elderly persons living in married-couple households were significantly more likely to be cognitively impaired and to require nursing care. Married-couple households were found to be significantly more likely to have cognitive decline and to require nursing care. The results of the comparison of each measurement by gender showed that grip strength and skeletal muscle mass were significantly lower in females than in males. Grip strength was lower than the national average for men in the couple-only households, and skeletal muscle mass met the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia for both men and women in both households. These results suggest that intervention against sarcopenia is necessary in day-care center rehabilitation regardless of household structure. In addition, since many married-couple households are cognitively impaired and require nursing care, it is necessary to pay attention to rapid changes in the patient's condition and the caregiver's burden.