Biomedical subjects

Hiroyasu Iso

Publications and source records attributed to Hiroyasu Iso.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2006

[Prediction of stroke, coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and total death based on results of annual health checkups].

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to predict mortality rate from the findings of annual health checkups for men and women. METHOD: The subjects were 31,053 men and 61,224 women who were living in Ibaraki prefecture (Japan), aged 40 to 79 years, without history of any stroke and coronary heart disease, and who participated in annual health checkups in 1993. They were followed until the end of 2001, with a systemic review of resident registration and death certificates. The Cox's proportional hazards model with step-down procedure was used to estimate predictive model. RESULTS: During the 8.0 years follow-up, there were 5260 deaths (710 from stroke, 389 from coronary heart disease and 2,322 from cancer). The predictive factors for all causes were advanced age, high systolic blood pressure, medication for hypertension, low serum HDL cholesterol, high or low serum creatinine, high AST or ALT, diabetes, low body mass index, current smoking, heavy drinking, and urinary protein among men. The predictive factors for cardiovascular disease were advanced age, high systolic blood pressure, medication for hypertension, low or high serum total cholesterol, low serum HDL cholesterol, high serum creatinine, diabetes, low body mass index, current smoker, and urinary protein, and those for cancer were advanced age, medication for hypertension, low serum HDL cholesterol, low serum creatinine, high AST or ALT, diabetes, low body mass index, current smoking, heavy drinking and urinary protein. Furthermore, those for stroke were advanced age, high systolic blood pressure, medication for hypertension, low serum HDL cholesterol, high serum creatinine, high AST or ALT, low body mass index, current smoking, while for coronary heart disease they were advanced age, high systolic blood pressure, high serum total cholesterol, low serum HDL cholesterol, diabetes, current smoking, and urinary protein among men. For women, similar predictive factors were obtained, although some of them did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: We could construct predictive models for 5-year mortality rate from results of annual health checkups. These findings should prove useful for computerized health education on the prevention of stroke, coronary heart disease, and cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

The relationship between sleep-disordered breathing and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in Japanese men.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory marker and emerging risk factor for atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, has been reported in overweight patients with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). However, the contribution of C-reactive protein to this disease among non-overweight individuals is uncertain. We thus examined the relationship between serum C-reactive protein levels and nocturnal arterial oxygen desaturation, stratified by category of body mass index (BMI). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects were 316 men with a mean BMI of 25.4 kg/m2, aged 20-79 years, who attended a sleep clinic at Osaka, Japan. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: SDB was assessed by oxygen desaturation index (ODI) measured by pulse oximetry during sleep. We used 3% oxygen desaturations per hour (3% ODI), as the indicator of SDB. We also measured serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). After adjustment for age, BMI, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and daily sleep duration, mean high-sensitivity CRP levels were 0.63, 0.65, and 0.96 mg/L for SDB severity levels of 3%ODI<5, 5 to 19.9, and >=20, respectively (p for trend=0.015). This association with SDB tended to be stronger in non-overweight men (BMI<25 kg/m2) (0.47, 0.48 and 1.02 mg/L, p for trend=0.017) than in overweight men (BMI > or = 25 kg/m2) (0.92, 0.87 and 1.21 mg/L, p for trend=0.11). CONCLUSION: SDB is associated with increased levels of CRP, especially in non-overweight men. Our results suggest the importance of follow-up and control of SDB in the prevention of cardiovascular disease even in non-overweight SDB patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

[Evaluation of a community-based health education program for salt reduction through media campaigns].

PURPOSE: To provide the strategies, achievement and evaluation of a community health education program for salt reduction with media campaigns. METHODS: The intervention community was Kyowa town (A district of Chikusei city, census population in 1985 = 16,792) where we have systematically conducted a community-based blood pressure control program since 1981, and health education on reduction of salt intake since 1983 for primary prevention of hypertension. The education program was performed through media campaigns including use of banners, signboards, posters, and calendars with health catchphrases. We also used catchphrase-labeled envelopes when sending documents from the municipal health center to individuals. Health festivals were held annually to enhance health consciousnesses and to improve health behavior. Some of the posters and calligraphy were painted or drawn by elementary schoolchildren as part of their education. The program was evaluated by repeated questionnaires and examination of salt concentrations of miso soup and dietary salt intake. RESULTS: Between 1983 and 1988, the prevalence of persons who were aware that health consultation including blood pressure measurements were available at the town office increased from 65% to 84%. The prevalence of those who knew the salt intake goal (10 g or less/day) increased from 47% to 63% and that of those who reported to reduce salt intake also increased from 38% to 58%. As for salt concentrations of miso soup, the proportion with less than 1.1% increased from 47% to 66% between 1985 and 2004. Age-adjusted mean salt intake for persons aged 40-69 years declined from 14 g to 11 g in men and from 12 g to 10 g in women between 1982-1986 and 2000-2004. CONCLUSION: A long-term systemic education program through media campaigns proved feasible with the cooperation of community leaders, schools and food associations.

Communications Media↗

PubMed2006

[Individualized health education with sports gym use and dietary advice for overweight and obese persons in a community. Kokuho Health-up model Program in Chikusei-shi (former Kyowa town)].

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the effect of a community-based health educational program for overweight or obesity persons, as the Kokuho Health-up model Program in Kyowa area of Chikusei-shi. METHODS: The subjects were men and women aged 35 to 60 years who participated in annual health check-ups from 1998 to 2003 and were living in Chikusei-shi (Former Kyowa town) Ibaraki prefecture, had a body mass index > or = 25.0 kg/m2 at baseline, and agreed to a 6-month intervention. The participants were divided into 59 persons for the intense intervention group (health checkups, dietary advice, monthly individual health education, and exercise in sports facilities three times/ week), 62 persons for the moderate intervention group (health checkups, dietary advice, monthly individual health education, and exercise in sports facilities or at home once/week), and 34 persons for the control group (only health checkups). Criteria for the metabolic syndrome were those published by the Japanese 8 committee. RESULT: During the 6-month intervention, the follow-up rate was 86%. At the baseline, there were no differences in physical status or lifestyles among the intervention and control groups. The frequency of use of sports facilities was 6.4 times/month for the intense intervention group and 1.9 times/month for the moderate intervention group. Mean body weight did not change in the control group (70.6 kg to 70.9 kg, P = 0.84) but decreased in the intense intervention group (71.4 kg to 69.5 kg, P < 0.001) and moderate intervention group (69.5 kg to 66.7 kg, P < 0.001). Mean abdominal circumference increased in the control group (91.0 cm to 93.9 cm, P = 0.001) but did not change in intense intervention group (90.1 cm to 90.0 cm, P = 0.29) or moderate intervention group (90.4 cm to 88.7 cm, P = 0.39). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased in the control group (18.2% to 40.0%, P = 0.01) but did not change in either of the intervention groups. CONCLUSIONS: We found a significant reduction of body weight and an attenuation of the increase of metabolic syndrome in both intensive and moderate intervention groups. The present community-based educational program may be effective for health promotion with overweight or obese middle-aged adults.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Dietary intake of calcium in relation to mortality from cardiovascular disease: the JACC Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: No prospective studies have examined the association between calcium intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease in Japanese populations with a low mean calcium intake. METHODS: Between 1988 and 1990, 110,792 Japanese subjects (46,465 men and 64,327 women) 40 to 79 years of age without a history of stroke, coronary heart disease, or cancer, completed a lifestyle questionnaire including food intake frequency under the Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) Study for Evaluation of Cancer Risk Sponsored by Monbusho. By the end of 1999, after 515,029 person years of follow-up, 566 deaths from stroke (101 subarachnoid hemorrhages, 140 intraparenchymal hemorrhages, and 273 ischemic strokes) and 234 deaths from coronary heart disease had been documented. RESULTS: The intake of total calcium tended to be inversely associated with mortality from total stroke but not from coronary heart disease or total cardiovascular disease for men and women. The inverse association with dairy calcium intake was apparent for total stroke, both hemorrhagic and ischemic. The multivariate relative risk for men with highest versus lowest quintiles of dairy calcium intake was 0.53 (95% CI, 0.34 to 0.81) for total stroke, 0.46 (0.23 to 0.91) for hemorrhagic stroke, and 0.53 (0.29 to 0.99) for ischemic stroke; corresponding relative risks for women were 0.57 (0.38 to 0.86), 0.51 (0.28 to 0.94), and 0.50 (0.27 to 0.95). CONCLUSIONS: Dietary calcium intake from dairy products was associated with reduced mortality from stroke for Japanese men and women.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Walking and sports participation and mortality from coronary heart disease and stroke.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to examine the impact of exercise on mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Asian populations. BACKGROUND: Few data have been available in Asian countries, where job-related physical activity is higher than that in Western countries. METHODS: Between 1988 and 1990, 31,023 men and 42,242 women in Japan, ages 40 to 79 years with no history of stroke, coronary heart disease (CHD), or cancer, completed a self-administered questionnaire. Systematic mortality surveillance was performed through 1999, and 1,946 cardiovascular deaths were identified. We chose the second lowest categories of walking and sports participation as the reference to reduce a potential effect of ill health. RESULTS: Men and women who reported having physical activity in the highest category (i.e., walking > or =1 h/day or doing sports > or =5 h/week) had a 20% to 60% lower age-adjusted risk of mortality from CVD, compared with those in the second lowest physical activity category (i.e., walking 0.5 h/day, or sports participation for 1 to 2 h/week). Adjustment for known risk factors, exclusion of individuals who died within two years of baseline inquiry, or gender-specific analysis did not substantially alter these associations. The multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for the highest versus the second lowest categories of walking or sports participation were 0.71 (0.54 to 0.94) and 0.80 (0.48 to 1.31), respectively, for ischemic stroke (IS); 0.84 (0.64 to 1.09) and 0.51 (0.32 to 0.82), respectively, for CHD; and 0.84 (0.75 to 0.95) and 0.73 (0.60 to 0.90), respectively, for CVD. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity through walking and sports participation might reduce the risk of mortality from IS and CHD.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Validity of a self-administered food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and its generalizability to the estimation of dietary folate intake in Japan.

BACKGROUND: In an epidemiological study, it is essential to test the validity of the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for its ability to estimate dietary intake. The objectives of our study were to 1) validate a FFQ for estimating folate intake, and to identify the foods that contribute to inter-individual variation of folate intake in the Japanese population. METHODS: Validity of the FFQ was evaluated using 28-day weighed dietary records (DRs) as gold standard in the two groups independently. In the group for which the FFQ was developed, validity was evaluated by Spearman's correlation coefficients (CCs), and linear regression analysis was used to identify foods with large inter-individual variation. The cumulative mean intake of these foods was compared with total intake estimated by the DR. The external validity of the FFQ and intake from foods on the same list were evaluated in the other group to verify generalizability. Subjects were a subsample from the Japan Public Health Center-based prospective Study who volunteered to participate in the FFQ validation study. RESULTS: CCs for the internal validity of the FFQ were 0.49 for men and 0.29 and women, while CCs for external validity were 0.33 for men and 0.42 for women. CCs for cumulative folate intake from 33 foods selected by regression analysis were also applicable to an external population. CONCLUSION: Our FFQ was valid for and generalizable to the estimation of folate intake. Foods identified as predictors of inter-individual variation in folate intake were also generalizable in Japanese populations. The FFQ with 138 foods was valid for the estimation of folate intake, while that with 33 foods might be useful for estimating inter-individual variation and ranking of individual folate intake.

Diet↗

PubMed2005

History of blood transfusion before 1990 is a risk factor for stroke and cardiovascular diseases: the Japan collaborative cohort study (JACC study).

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown novel evidence that history of blood transfusion is a risk factor for mortality from subarachnoid hemorrhage. This study was conducted to assess history of transfusion as a risk factor for other hemorrhagic stroke or ischemic stroke and cardiovascular diseases. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 88,312 Japanese participants (36,823 men and 51,489 women), aged 40-79 years, without history of stroke, heart disease or cancer, completed a questionnaire including history of transfusion under the JACC Study from 1988 to 1990. Participants were followed up annually until deceased, or when they moved away from the surveyed community, or at the end of 1999. The underlying causes of death were determined according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10). RESULTS: Total follow-up person-years were 871,437 (males 359,437, females 512,000). During this 10-year period, 309 died from intracerebral hemorrhage, 587 from ischemic stroke and 472 from coronary heart disease. The multivariate relative risks of a transfusion history were 2.16 (95% CI 1.42-3.27, p < 0.001) for intracerebral hemorrhage, 1.63 (95% CI 1.18-2.27, p = 0.004) for ischemic stroke and 1.66 (95% CI 1.17-2.36, p = 0.005) for coronary heart disease, after adjustment for conventional cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSION: A transfusion history was associated with increased mortality from stroke and coronary heart disease.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Ankle-arm blood pressure index as a correlate of preclinical carotid atherosclerosis in elderly Japanese men.

Peripheral artery disease correlates with preclinical carotid atherosclerosis in Western populations. However, little is known about this correlation in Asian populations. In a cross-sectional population-based study, we examined the correlation between peripheral arterial disease and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) among 726 Japanese men aged 60-79 years. None of them had a history of clinical peripheral arterial disease. The ankle-to-arm systolic blood pressure index (AAI) was used as a surrogate estimate of peripheral arterial disease. Compared to men with AAI> or =0.90, those with AAI<0.90 were 1-4 years older, and had lower mean body mass index and higher prevalence of current smokers. The mean AAI correlated inversely and linearly with maximum IMT in the common and internal carotid arteries (CCA and ICA), and men with AAI<0.90 had higher prevalence of maximum ICA IMT > or =1.5mm than did those with AAI> or =0.90. The multivariate odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of maximum ICA IMT > or =1.5mm was 2.9 (1.0-8.4), while that of maximum CCA IMT> or =1.1mm was 1.4 (0.5-3.8) for men with AAI<0.90 versus > or =1.30. The sensitivity was 65% and the specificity was 98% for low AAI to detect ICA IMT > or =1.5mm. Low AAI is a strong correlate for internal carotid atherosclerosis and the AAI measurement may be of use to screen for preclinical peripheral atherosclerosis among Japanese elderly men.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Body mass index and mortality from cardiovascular disease among Japanese men and women: the JACC study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although overweight is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease in Western countries, the impact of overweight has not been well elucidated in Japan, where its prevalence is low. METHODS: A total of 104,928 Japanese (43,889 men and 61,039 women) aged 40 to 79 years, free of stroke, coronary heart disease, and cancer at entry participated in the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study for Evaluation of Cancer Risk Sponsored by Monbusho (JACC Study) between 1988 and 1990. Systematic surveillance was completed until the end of 1999, with 1,042,835 person years of follow-up, and the underlying causes of death were determined based on the International Classification of Diseases. RESULTS: There were 765 total strokes (191 intraparenchymal hemorrhages), 379 coronary heart diseases, and 1707 total cardiovascular diseases for men; and for women, there were 685 (145), 256, and 1432, respectively. Compared with persons with body mass index (BMI) 23.0 to 24.9, those with BMI > or =27.0 kg/m2 had a higher risk of coronary heart disease; for men and women, the respective multivariate relative risk (95% CI) was 2.05 (1.35 to 3.13) and 1.58 (0.95 to 2.62). Persons with BMI <18.5 kg/m2 had higher risk of total stroke and intraparenchymal hemorrhage, for men and women, the respective multivariate relative risk was 1.29 (1.01 to 1.49) and 1.92 (1.49 to 2.47) for total stroke and 1.96 (1.16 to 3.31) and 2.32 (1.36 to 3.97) for intraparenchymal hemorrhage. These excess risks did not alter materially when deaths within 5 years were excluded or when smoking status was taken into account. CONCLUSIONS: For Japanese men and women, high BMI was associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease, whereas low BMI was associated with intraparenchymal hemorrhage.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Alcohol consumption and mortality among middle-aged and elderly Japanese men and women.

PURPOSE: We conducted a prospective cohort study to examine the association between alcohol intake and the risk of all-cause mortality among middle-aged and elderly Japanese men and women. METHODS: At baseline (1988-1990), a total of 110,792 Japanese men and women aged 40 to 79 years were asked to complete a questionnaire that included information on alcohol intake, and were followed up for all-cause mortality through December 31, 1999. Relative risks (95% confidence interval) were calculated using Cox proportional-hazards models. RESULTS: The risk of all-cause mortality was lowest among current drinkers with an alcohol intake of 0.1 to 22.9 g/d (RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.72-0.88 for men; and RR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.77-1.00 for women). Excessive mortality associated with heavy drinking (> or = 69 g/d) was observed for cancer, cardiovascular disease and injuries and other external causes in men, while significantly reduced mortality with light drinking was seen for cancer in men and CVD in women. For men, the benefit associated with light alcohol consumption (< 23 g/d) was more apparent among nonsmokers than among smokers. CONCLUSION: Our prospective data show a 12% to 20% decreased risk of all-cause mortality in both Japanese men and women who consumed less than 23 g/d of alcohol (approximately 2 drinks), although heavy drinking increased that risk.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Smoking cessation and mortality from cardiovascular disease among Japanese men and women: the JACC Study.

To examine the effect of smoking cessation on cardiovascular disease mortality in Asians, the authors conducted a 10-year prospective cohort study of 94,683 Japanese (41,782 men and 52,901 women) aged 40-79 years who were part of the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study for Evaluation of Cancer Risk (JACC Study). During 941,043 person-years of follow-up between 1989-1990 and 1999, 698 deaths from stroke, 348 from coronary heart disease, and 1,555 from total cardiovascular disease occurred in men and 550, 199, and 1,155, respectively, in women. For men, the multivariate relative risks for current smokers compared with never smokers were 1.39 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13, 1.70) for stroke, 2.51 (95% CI: 1.79, 3.51) for coronary heart disease, and 1.60 (95% CI: 1.39, 1.84) for total cardiovascular disease. The respective relative risks for women were 1.65 (95% CI: 1.21, 2.25), 3.35 (95% CI: 2.23, 5.02), and 2.06 (95% CI: 1.69, 2.51), with larger excess risks for persons aged 40-64 years than for older persons. The risk decline after smoking cessation occurred for coronary heart disease and total cardiovascular disease within 2 years and for total stroke after 2-4 years. For each endpoint and in both age subgroups of 40-64 and 65-79 years, most of the benefit of cessation occurred after 10-14 years following cessation. Findings imply the importance of smoking cessation at any age to prevent cardiovascular disease in Japanese.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Relationship between urinary cGMP excretion and serum total cholesterol levels in a general population.

Hypercholesterolemia impairs endothelial function. However, the critical level of serum total cholesterol at which endothelial dysfunction occurs is unknown at present. We investigated cross-sectionally the correlation between urinary excretion of cyclic guanosine 3',5' monophosphate (cGMP), a second messenger of nitric oxide (NO) and serum total cholesterol concentrations in a general population sample of Japanese men and women. The samples comprised 1541 subjects (788 men and 753 women) aged 40-79 years, who participated in cardiovascular risk surveys between 1997 and 2002 and underwent a 24h urine collection. Urinary excretion of cGMP was measured using a (125)I-labeled cGMP radioimmunoassay and was adjusted for urinary creatinine excretion (nmol/mmol creatinine). The mean urinary cGMP excretion correlated linearly and inversely with serum total cholesterol level: mean cGMP excretion adjusted for age, sex and cardiovascular risk factors was 61.7, 53.6, 50.8, 49.2, 47.3 and 46.4 nmol/mmol for total cholesterol levels <4.14, 4.14-4.64, 4.65-5.16, 5.17-5.68, 5.69-6.20 and > or =6.21 mmol/L, respectively (p=0.007). This relation was more evident among individuals with end-organ damage, among subjects with higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and among postmenopausal women. Our data suggest a reduction of NO bioactivity with higher serum total cholesterol levels, even within clinically normal cholesterol levels.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

A nationwide cohort study of educational background and major causes of death among the elderly population in Japan.

BACKGROUND: This prospective cohort study examined the association between educational level and major causes of death in Japan. METHOD: A baseline survey was conducted between 1988 and 1990 among 110,792 inhabitants of 45 areas aged 40-79 years. Follow-up surveys were conducted annually and causes of death were identified from death certificates. The analysis was restricted to 16,715 men and 23,284 women. RESULTS: During the follow-up period (377,139 person-years), 6628 deaths were recorded. Individuals with low levels of education had an increased overall risk of death [relative risk (RR)=1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08, 1.25, in men; RR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.14, 1.39, in women], cancers (RR=1.17, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.32, in men; RR=1.10, 95% CI: 0.93, 1.30, in women), and death from external causes (RR=1.81, 95% CI: 1.29. 2.54, in men; RR=1.78, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.70, in women). Ischemic heart disease risk was marginally reduced in men with low levels of education (RR=0.77, 95% CI: 0.58, 1.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results show that health inequalities exist in Japan, even though wealth inequalities are relatively low. Social and political initiatives will be needed to correct these inequities between different socioeconomic statuses.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Vascular dysfunction in patients with chronic arsenosis can be reversed by reduction of arsenic exposure.

Chronic arsenic exposure causes vascular diseases associated with systematic dysfunction of endogenous nitric oxide. Replacement of heavily arsenic-contaminated drinking water with low-arsenic water is a potential intervention strategy for arsenosis, although the reversibility of arsenic intoxication has not established. In the present study, we examined urinary excretion of cyclic guanosine 3 ,5 -monophosphate (cGMP), a second messenger of the vasoactive effects of nitric oxide, and signs and symptoms for peripheral vascular function in 54 arsenosis patients before and after they were supplied with low-arsenic drinking water in an endemic area of chronic arsenic poisoning in Inner Mongolia, China. The arsenosis patients showed a marked decrease in urinary excretion of cGMP (mean +/- SEM: male, 37.0 +/- 6.1; female, 37.2 +/- 5.4 nmol/mmol creatinine), and a 13-month period of consuming low-arsenic drinking water reversed this trend (male, 68.0 +/- 5.6; female, 70.6 +/- 3.0 nmol/mmol creatinine) and improved peripheral vascular response to cold stress. Our intervention study indicates that peripheral vascular disease in arsenosis patients can be reversed by exposure cessation and has important implications for the public health approach to arsenic exposure.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Age-specific relationship between blood pressure and the risk of total and cardiovascular mortality in Japanese men and women.

To examine the impact of age on the relationship between blood pressure (BP) levels and each of cardiovascular disease mortality and all-cause mortality, a total of 30,226 men and 58,798 women aged 40-79 years who had no history of stroke or heart disease underwent health checkups in Ibaraki-ken, Japan, in 1993 and were followed through 2002. Risk ratios for mortality by BP category based on the 1999 WHO-ISH guidelines were calculated by age subgroups (40-59 years, 60-79 years) using a Cox proportional hazards model. Compared with optimal BP levels, the multivariate risk ratios of cardiovascular mortality for stage 2 or 3 hypertension were 5.99 (95% confidence interval: 2.13-16.8) in middle-aged men and 4.09 (1.70-9.85) in middle-aged women. These excess cardiovascular mortality risks were larger in the 40-59 years age group than in the 60-79 years age group for both genders (p for interaction = 0.01 for both). In men, the population attributable risk percents of cardiovascular mortality were 60% for younger men and 28% for older men, while for women they were 15% for younger women and 7% for older women. Weaker but significant excess risks of total mortality were observed for stage 2 or 3 hypertension in men of both age groups and in the older age group for women. The impact of BP on the risk of cardiovascular mortality was larger among middle-aged persons than among the elderly in both men and women. Our findings indicate the importance of BP control to prevent cardiovascular disease among middle-aged individuals.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

A Prospective Cohort Study of Employment Status and Mortality from Circulatory Disorders among Japanese Workers.

This study prospectively examined the association between employment status (employed or self-employed) and the risk of death from circulatory diseases among Japanese workers. A baseline survey was conducted between 1988 and 1990 among 110,792 inhabitants of 45 areas. Follow-up surveys were conducted annually and causes of death were identified from death certificates. Analysis was restricted to 25,945 individuals (15,434 male and 10,511 female) with ages ranging from 40 to 59 years. These subjects were employed or self-employed at the time of recruitment. The risks of self-employment for death due to circulatory system disease, ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease were estimated using the Cox proportional hazards model. During the 10-year follow-up period (151,817 and 104,870 person-years for males and females, respectively), 720 male and 193 female deaths were recorded. No significant differences were detected between the employed and self-employed workers in the total death risk, or the risk of death from ischemic heart disease. However, self-employed men showed a significantly lower risk of death from cerebrovascular disease compared with employed men (relative risk=0.58; 95% confidence interval=0.35, 0.97). Our findings suggest that employed men are at increased risk of death from cerebrovascular disease compared with self-employed men.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Trends in dietary intake of folate, vitamins B6, and B12 among Japanese adults in two rural communities from 1974 through 2001.

BACKGROUND: The 5th edition of the Japanese food composition table enables us to evaluate intakes of folate and vitamins B6 and B12, which are associated with risk of chronic diseases. METHODS: We investigated long-term trends in dietary intake of those nutrients in two rural communities; Ikawa from1974 through 2000, and Kyowa from 1982 through 2001. The 24-hour recall method was adopted. Intake of green tea interviewed from 1994 was used to examine food sources for these nutrients in the latest period, but not to evaluate long-term trends. Reduced intakes of nutrients due to cooking were not taken into account. RESULTS: Age-adjusted mean folate intake increased by 30% in Ikawa between the 1970's and 1980's, and then leveled off to the latest survey, while that in Kyowa did not change throughout the survey periods. The increased folate intake was primarily due to green/yellow vegetables. Mean vitamin B6 intake did not change except that it increased for Ikawa women in the 1980's and decreased for Kyowa men in the latest period. No secular trend was found for mean vitamin B12 intake. The largest source for folate intake was total vegetables (38-58% of total intake) and the second largest source was alcohol/beverages including green tea (11-24%). Fish/shellfish was the largest source for vitamins B6 (16-23%) and B12 (77-84%). CONCLUSIONS: Dietary intakes of folate, vitamins B6 and B12 showed no notable long-term trend, except for an increased folate intake between the 1970's and 1980's due to an increased intake of green/yellow vegetables.

Adult↗