Regional disparities in home health care utilization for older adults and their associated factors at the secondary medical area level: A nationwide study in Japan” [Letter]

Dear Editor,
The study, “Regional disparities in home health care utilization for older adults and their associated factors at the secondary medical area level: A nationwide study in Japan,”1 provides a comprehensive analysis of the uneven distribution of home health care services in Japan. By leveraging nationwide data from 2020, the authors identify significant regional disparities in home health care utilization rates, with urban areas demonstrating higher service usage due to the presence of enhanced home care support clinics/hospitals. Their multivariate analysis underscores the critical role of factors such as population density and the availability of medical resources as positive determinants of home visit rates. These findings illuminate the profound influence of demographic and systemic factors on the equitable provision of health care, establishing a valuable basis for addressing regional inequalities in long-term care systems...