A study examined the relationship between frailty status and nursing care costs among older adults in Japan using public services aimed at preventing long-term frailty. The research involved 151 participants, averaging 80.5 years old, who had received assistance from April 2011 to March 2020, with data collected over two years.

Frailty was assessed using the Kihon Checklist (KCL). At the beginning of the study, 117 participants were classified as frail, and 94 remained frail after two years. Among these, 17 experienced an increase in care level, while 77 did not. Significant differences in care costs were observed, particularly between those with maintenance frailty and severe frailty.

The study found that identifying severe frailty at the onset of service use could lead to more effective interventions. The analysis indicated that a KCL score of 11.5 points could predict severe frailty, with a sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 56%. Overall, participants with increased care needs incurred higher nursing care costs, highlighting the importance of early detection and intervention for frail older adults.