# Older adult care efficiency and health outcomes: a meta-analysis of the Chinese and Japanese experiences

**Authors:** Peng Li, Chokchai Suttawet

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1604273 · Frontiers in Public Health · 2025-12-22

## TL;DR

This study compares older adult care efficiency and health outcomes in China and Japan, aiming to inform global aging care policies.

## Contribution

A meta-analysis using Resource-Based Theory to evaluate care efficiency and health outcomes in China and Japan.

## Key findings

- Older adult care efficiency positively affects health outcomes in China and Japan.
- Efficiency depends on financial spending, employee numbers, and infrastructure standards.
- Urban and rural regions show notable differences in care efficiency and policy effectiveness.

## Abstract

With the rapid aging of populations in China and Japan, healthcare systems face increasing pressure to enhance efficiency and improve older adult health outcomes. The aim of the study is to use a PRISMA-guided meta-analysis of Chinese and Japanese research on efficiency of older adult care and the multidimensional health outcomes, such as physical, mental and social health using Resource-Based Theory as the main conceptual framework supplemented by Institutional Theory. The research is expected to create policy suggestions that can be applied and associated efficiency with health outcomes. A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies was conducted in PubMed along with Web of Science, Scopus, and JSTOR which included the keywords “older adult care efficiency,” “health outcomes,” “China” and “Japan.” Preliminary research shows older adult care efficiency creates positive effects on health outcomes although China and Japan demonstrate substantial differences in their connection. The efficiency level depends on three elements which are financial spending along with the number of employees and infrastructure standards. The subgroup data shows noticeable differences exist between urban areas and rural regions and evaluation of policy initiatives. In conclusion, the research demonstrates that efficiency serves as a fundamental factor to enhance health outcomes for older adult people and offers implementation strategies which the Chinese and Japanese service providers as well as other aging population providers can utilize. Through the integration of knowledge from these two nations policy makers can construct flexible approaches to advance global older adult care systems.

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** acute (MESH:D000208), frailty (MESH:D000073496), diabetes (MESH:D003920), Depression (MESH:D003866), dementia (MESH:D003704), Chronic disease (MESH:D002908), hypertension (MESH:D006973), Mental (MESH:D008607), cardiovascular diseases (MESH:D002318)
- **Chemicals:** DEA (-)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12766973/full.md

## Figures

5 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12766973/full.md

## References

39 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12766973/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12766973