Association between Tai Chi Yuttari Exercise and Longevity and Prevention of Long-Term Care Need: Survival Analysis in Kitakata City, Japan

Abstract

This study examined whether participation in Tai Chi Yuttari exercise is associated with a delay in the death and new certification for long-term care need of older adults. Individuals who participated in Tai Chi Yuttari exercise classes in 2011–2015 (participation group) were compared with individuals from the Basic Resident Register of Kitakata City (non-participation group). Death and new certification for long-term care need were selected to evaluate the effectiveness of participation in Tai Chi Yuttari exercise classes. The periods from the start date of the observation to each person’s date of occurrence of events were calculated. The Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test were used to compare survival curves between the groups. A total of 105 and 202 individuals in the participation and non-participation groups, respectively, were observed. Survival duration (χ2 = 8.782, p = 0.003) and the period before receiving certification for long-term care (χ2 = 5.354, p = 0.021) were longer in the participation group than in the non-participation group. In the stratified analysis by sex, survival duration was longer in the participation group in men only (χ2 = 7.875, p = 0.005). Participation in Tai Chi Yuttari exercise might be effective in delaying death, especially in men, and new certification for long-term care.