Influences of Financial Strains Over the Life Course Before Initiating Hemodialysis on Health Outcomes Among Older Japanese Patients: A Retrospective Study in Japan

PURPOSE: This study analyzed the influence of financial strains over the life course before initiating hemodialysis on the health outcomes of older Japanese patients. This study was limited to financial strains over the life course before initiating hemodialysis to eliminate the influence of financial strains resulting from resignation from paid jobs. We examined which of the four life course models—pathway, latent, social mobility, and accumulation—were appropriate to describe the influences of financial strains over the life course on older patients’ health. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of 6,644 outpatients in dialysis facilities across Japan. We selected participants aged 60 years and older at the time of the survey. Numbers of dialysis complications, activities of daily living (ADL) disability, and depressive symptoms were selected as health outcomes. Benchmark periods over the life course were constructed in three parts: less than 18 years (childhood), 18–35 years (young adults), and 35–50 years (middle-aged). We retrospectively measured financial strains over the life course. RESULTS: Pathway models best described the influence of financial strains over the life course on the three types of health outcomes. Experiences of financial strains as young adults had a direct influence on ADL disability of older patients. This result supports latent models. Social mobility models (upward and downward mobility) and accumulation models explained the number of dialysis complications, ADL disability, and depressive symptoms in older patients. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that socioeconomic disadvantages over the life course before initiating hemodialysis were significantly associated with health outcomes in older patients.