Table 4 Reasons for the selection of the 28 variables related to regional characteristics

Population

Proportion of population aged under 15 years

The demand for medical care is expected to increase with the number of children

Proportion of population aged 65 years and over

The demand for medical and care increases with the number of older adults

Proportion of population change

The supply of medical and care resources changes with the size of the population

Population density

The higher the population density, the larger the population served by a single medical and care supply base and the more efficient the medical and care supply can be

Proportion of population in densely inhabited districts

Proportion of daytime to nighttime population

The supply of medical and care resources is expected to change with changes in daytime and nighttime populations

Proportion of internal migrants from other municipalities

The supply of medical and care resources changes with the size of the population

Household

Persons per household

A higher number of persons per household is expected to result in a higher percentage of persons living together and a lower demand for inpatient and institutional care

Proportion of single-person households (excluding households aged 65 years and over)

The demand for hospitalization is expected to be higher for single-person households

Proportion of single-person households aged 65 years and over

The demand for hospitalization and institutional care increases with a greater number of older single-person households

Proportion of nuclear households

A higher percentage of nuclear households is expected to result in a higher percentage of persons living together and a lower demand for inpatient and institutional care

Proportion of double-income households

A higher percentage of double-income households is expected to result in a higher percentage of persons living together at home and a lower demand for inpatient and institutional care

Proportion of households living in a detached house

A higher percentage of households living in detached houses is expected to result in a less urbanized region, and thus in a situation where a single medical and care supply base cannot serve a large population or provide efficient medical and care supply

Proportion of households living in government-owned rental housing

A higher percentage of households living in government-owned rental housing is expected to result in a higher percentage of low-wage earners and a higher demand for inpatient and institutional care

Industry & Work

Proportion of workers in primary industry

The supply of medical and care resources is expected to differ with the industrial composition

Proportion of workers in secondary industry

Proportion of workers in tertiary industry

Proportion of working population

A higher percentage of the working population results in lower percentages of children and older populations and a lower demand for inpatient and institutional care

Proportion of commuters using rail

A higher percentage of commuters using railways results in a more urbanized region, where a single medical and care supply base can serve a large population and medical and care supply is efficient

Proportion of commuters using their own vehicle

A higher percentage of commuters using their own vehicle results in a less urbanized region, where a single medical and care supply base cannot serve a large population and medical and care supply is inefficient

Annual retail merchandise sales per capita

Active purchasing behavior suggests more disposable income, which is related to health and thus affects the medical and care supply system

Municipal residence tax per capita

A higher municipal residence tax suggests more income, which is related to health and thus affects the medical and care supply system

Land utilization

Proportion of densely inhabited district areas

A higher population density suggests a situation where a single medical and care supply base can serve a large population and medical and care supply is efficient

Proportion of land area used for building

A higher percentage of land area used for building suggests a more urbanized region where a single medical and care supply base can serve a large population and medical and care supply is efficient

Proportion of forest area

A higher percentage of forest area suggests a less urbanized region where a single medical and care supply base cannot serve a large population and medical and care supply is inefficient

Proportion of land area used for rice paddies and agriculture

A higher percentage of land area used for rice paddies and agriculture suggests a less urbanized region where a single medical and care supply base cannot serve a large population and medical and care supply is inefficient

Proportion of depopulated area

A higher percentage of depopulated area suggests a situation where a single medical and care supply base cannot serve a large population and medical and care supply is inefficient

Number of pre-merger municipalities

A larger number of previous municipalities suggests dispersed medical and care supply bases before the merger and inefficient medical and care supply