Changes in characteristics of gastroenterology center inpatients in Japan because of rapidly aging society

J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2024 Aug;39(8):1528-1534. doi: 10.1111/jgh.16557. Epub 2024 Apr 18.

Abstract

Background and aim: Rapidly aging societies have become a major issue worldwide including Japan. This study aimed to elucidate relative changes in the characteristics of inpatients in Japan related to this issue.

Methods: A total of 23 835 Japanese inpatients treated from 2010 to 2021 were enrolled (2010-2013, period I; 2014-2017, period II; 2018-2021, period III). Changes in clinical features were retrospectively analyzed based on ICD-10 diagnosis data.

Results: The percentage of patients aged over 75 years increased over time (period I, 38.0%; II, 39.5%, III, 41.4%). Emergency admissions comprised 27.5% of all in period I, which increased to 43.2% in period II and again to 44.5% in period III (P < 0.001). In period I, gastrointestinal disease, liver disease, pancreatic-biliary disease, and other disease types were noted in 47.4%, 29.5%, 19.2%, and 3.9%, respectively, while those values were 44.0%, 18.0%, 33.9%, and 4.1%, respectively, in period III (P < 0.001). The frequency of liver disease decreased by approximately 0.6-fold from periods I to III, while that of biliary-pancreatic disease increased by approximately 1.8-fold during that time. Both percentage and actual numbers of patients with biliary-pancreatic disease increased during the examined periods. Analysis of changes in the proportion of organs affected by malignancy during periods I, II, and III showed a marked increase in cases of biliary-pancreatic malignancy (11.6%, 19.5%, 26.6%, respectively) (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: In association with the rapidly aging Japanese society, there has been an increasing frequency of biliary-pancreatic disease cases requiring hospitalization for treatment in the west Japan region of Shikoku.

Keywords: Japan; aging society; biliary‐pancreatic disease; gastroenterology; inpatients; pancreas cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging
  • Biliary Tract Diseases / epidemiology
  • Biliary Tract Diseases / therapy
  • Female
  • Gastroenterology* / statistics & numerical data
  • Gastroenterology* / trends
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / epidemiology
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / therapy
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Inpatients* / statistics & numerical data
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Liver Diseases / diagnosis
  • Liver Diseases / epidemiology
  • Liver Diseases / therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pancreatic Diseases / epidemiology
  • Pancreatic Diseases / therapy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors