Joint Impact of Smoking and Metabolic Syndrome on Cardiovascular Disease: A Cohort Study.

Aims: This study examined whether or not the coexistence of smoking and metabolic syndrome synergistically increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) beyond their individual effects.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included 68,743 workers from the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study. The participants were categorized into four groups based on their smoking status and metabolic syndrome.

Response to Structural Biases in the Japanese Diet-Depression Association.

This article relates to Structural Biases in the Japanese Diet-Depression Association.

Relatively lower-intensity physical activity during leisure time and presenteeism among Japanese workers.

Objectives: This study examines the cross-sectional association between relatively lower-intensity physical activity (LIPA) during leisure time and presenteeism, accounting for relatively higher-intensity physical activity (HIPA) during leisure time.

Methods: Data were derived from 11 438 workers from 6 worksites of large companies in Japan, which participated in a questionnaire survey conducted between fiscal years 2018 and 2020. Frequency and duration per occasion were assessed for leisure-time physical activities at 3 intensities as determined by shortness of breath.

Association between the Japanese-style diet and low prevalence of depressive symptoms: Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study.

Aim: The Japanese diet, rich in fish, soy products, and green tea, is associated with better mental health. However, associations between Japanese dietary patterns and depressive symptoms remain inconsistent, with limited research on predefined patterns. This study developed scores for traditional and modified Japanese diets to explore their cross-sectional associations with depressive symptoms in a large working population.

Cross-sectional Association Between Work Intervals and Metabolic Syndrome among Japanese Daytime Workers: Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study.

Objective: To investigate the association between work intervals and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Japanese daytime workers.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 5,094 daytime workers from the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study. Work intervals, with and without commuting, were calculated using a self-administered questionnaire.

Birth cohort-specific smoking patterns in Japan (1906-2004): a population-based study from the NC-CCAPH consortium.

Background: This study aimed to estimate Japan's age-specific history of smoking prevalence, initiation, cessation, and intensity by birth cohort, using data from multiple cohort studies.

Methods: We pooled data from eight eligible cohorts surveyed between 1989 and 2020 as part of the National Center Cohort Collaborative for Advancing Population Health (NC-CCAPH). An Age-Period-Cohort model was employed to estimate birth cohort- and sex-specific smoking patterns for individuals born between 1920 and 1999.

Incidence rates of medically certified long-term sickness absence among Japanese employees: A focus on sex differences.

Background: Long-term sickness absence (LTSA) is an important public health challenge, yet limited data exist on its incidence in Japan. We aimed to describe the incidence of all-cause and cause-specific LTSA by sex and age, using 10-year data from a large Japanese working population, focusing on sex differences.

Methods: The study participants were employees from 16 worksites in the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study between April 2012 and March 2022.

Relationship of Social Jetlag and Chronotype With the Risk of Diabetes Among Predominantly Male Japanese Daytime Workers: A Prospective Study.

Greater social jetlag and late chronotypes have been linked to poor glucose metabolism, but their effects on diabetes risk in Asians remain unclear. This study investigated the prospective association between social jetlag, chronotype and diabetes risk among Japanese workers. We included 1681 workers (73% were daytime workers) aged 18-78 years who attended a nutritional survey in 2015 and 2016 and were followed for diabetes incidence until May 31, 2022.

Close adherence to the Japanese diet is not associated with a high prevalence of hypertension: the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study.

While the traditional Japanese diet has been suggested to increase blood pressure due to its high Na content, whether the contemporary Japanese diet is associated with blood pressure remains elusive. We developed a traditional Japanese diet score (nine items: white rice, miso soup, soy products, vegetables, mushrooms, seaweeds, fish, salty food and green tea) and a modified version by substituting white rice with whole-grain rice, reverse scoring for salty food and adding fruits, raw vegetables and dairy products using data from 12 213 employees from Japanese companies. Hypertension was defined as a blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or more or the use of antihypertensive drugs.

Application of stroke prediction models to evaluation of worksite health status.

Objectives: For occupational health staff, the health status of the worksite is an important matter, and a single index for presenting this health status is desired. We applied a stroke prediction model to employees of a Japanese non-iron metal company working at 10 worksites to present health status of the worksite.

Methods: We applied a stroke prediction model of the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study to 2,807 male employees without history of cardiovascular disease.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of cardiometabolic risk factors among workers: results from the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions on human activities have greatly changed lifestyles, which might have deteriorated the cardiometabolic profile.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of cardiometabolic risk factors among Japanese workers in fiscal years (FY) 2020 and 2021 compared with the prepandemic period.

Method: This study comprised an average of 71 025 employees in Japan who underwent annual health check-ups for at least two successive years from 2015 to 2021.

Meat intake and type 2 diabetes among Japanese workers: a prospective study.

Red meat and processed meat intake has been linked to increased risk of type 2 diabetes; however, evidence from Asia is limited and inconsistent. We prospectively examined the association of intake of total meat and its subtype with type 2 diabetes in a Japanese working population. Participants were 2709 workers aged 18-78 years who reported no history of diabetes when they responded to a health survey for the first time between 2012 and 2019.

Development and Validation of a Cardiovascular Disease Risk Prediction Model for the Japanese Working Population: The Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study.

Aims: This study aimed to develop a cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk model using data from a large occupational cohort.

Methods: A risk prediction model was developed using the routine health checkup data of 96,117 Japanese employees (84.0% men) who were 30-64 years of age and had no CVD at baseline.

Association of conventional cigarette smoking, heated tobacco product use, and dual use with hearing loss: A working population-based study.

Introduction: Although conventional cigarette smoking has been linked to an increased risk of hearing loss, the association between heated tobacco products (HTPs) and hearing loss is unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between cigarette and HTP use and hearing loss.

Methods: This cross-sectional study examined the data of 7769 employees from five companies (Study I) and 34404 employees from a large company (Study II), all participants in the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study.

Blood pressure classification using the Japanese Society of Hypertension Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension and cardiovascular events among young to middle-aged working adults.

The Japanese Society of Hypertension updated guidelines for hypertension management (JSH2019), changing the blood pressure (BP) classification. However, evidence is sparse regarding the association of the classification with cardiovascular disease (CVD) events among young to middle-aged workers in Japan. We examined this issue using longitudinal data from Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study with a prospective cohort design.

Eating behaviors and depressive symptoms among Japanese workers: the Furukawa Nutrition and Health Study.

Background/objectives: In addition to the potential effects of nutrients on mood, eating behaviors have been suggested to be associated with depressive symptoms. We investigated the prospective association between the accumulation of unhealthy eating behaviors and depressive symptoms in a Japanese working population.

Methods: Participants were 914 workers (aged 19-68 years) who did not have depressive symptoms at baseline (April 2012 and May 2013) and attended a 3-year follow-up survey (April 2015 and May 2016).

Isoflavone intake and depressive symptoms among workers.

Background & Aim: High intake of isoflavones has been reported to be associated with decreased prevalence of depressive symptoms. However, no prospective study has examined this association. We prospectively investigated the association between isoflavone intake and depressive symptoms in a Japanese working population.

The association between living alone and depressive symptoms and the role of pet ownership among Japanese workers.

Background: Living alone has been positively associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms. We examined how a combination of living alone and pet ownership relates to depressive symptoms.

Methods: As part of the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study, we conducted a survey on health-related lifestyles, including living arrangements and pet ownership, among 12,763 employees of five companies in 2018-2021.

Metabolic syndrome and the risk of severe cancer events: a longitudinal study in Japanese workers.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with cancer risk; however, little is known regarding its relationship with the risk of cancer-related premature death and long-term sick leave (LTSL), which can lead to a substantial loss in working years. The present study aimed to quantify the all-site and site-specific associations between MetS and the risk of severe cancer events (a composite outcome of LTSL and mortality due to cancer) in a large working population in Japan.

Methods: We recruited 70,875 workers (59,950 men and 10,925 women), aged 20-59 years, who attended health check-ups in 2011 (10 companies) and 2014 (2 companies).

Diabetes, Prediabetes, and the Risk of a Composite Outcome of Long-term Sickness Absence and Pre-retirement Death Due to Physical Disorders.

Background: Diabetes and prediabetes have been linked with morbidity or mortality from cardiovascular disease, cancer, or other physical disorders among working-age populations, but less is known about outcomes directly related to labor loss (eg, Tlong-term sickness absence [LTSA] or pre-retirement death due to physical disorders).This prospective study aimed to examine the association of diabetes and prediabetes with the risk of a composite outcome of LTSA and pre-retirement death due to physical disorders. The present study also examined the associations of severe outcomes (LTSA or death) due to specific physical disorders or injuries/external causes in relation to diabetes and prediabetes.

Heated tobacco product use and abnormal glucose metabolism: a working population-based study.

Aims: We aimed to assess the cross-sectional association of heated tobacco product (HTP) use with prediabetes and diabetes.

Methods: The present analysis included 8950 workers from 5 companies (Study I) and 31,341 workers from another large company (Study II), who participated in the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study. The participants were divided into five groups: never smokers, past smokers, exclusive HTP users, dual users of cigarettes and HTPs, and exclusive cigarette smokers.

Heated tobacco products and circulating high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations.

We aimed to assess the association between heated tobacco product (HTP) use and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration. Our study included 12,268 workers from five companies (Study I) and 36,503 workers from another large company (Study II). Participants were categorized into five groups: never smokers, past smokers, exclusive HTP users, dual users of cigarettes and HTPs, and exclusive cigarette smokers.

Associations of serum amino acids with insulin resistance among people with and without overweight or obesity: A prospective study in Japan.

Background & Aims: Limited evidence exists regarding the prospective associations between amino acids and insulin resistance. In addition, amino acids have been suggested to promote insulin resistance with the requirement of obesity in animal studies, but the interaction between amino acids and obesity on the development of insulin resistance has not been examined in epidemiological studies. We aimed to investigate the differences in the prospective associations of serum amino acids with insulin resistance among adults with and without overweight or obesity.

Relationship of chronotype and social jetlag with adherence to the Japanese dietary guidelines among workers.

While late chronotype and greater social jetlag have been associated with poor dietary behavior among the general population, these associations have not been investigated among workers, who struggle to align their sleep timings with work schedules. We aimed to explore the cross-sectional association of social jetlag and a late chronotype with adherence to a healthy diet among Japanese workers. Participants were 1,435 non-shift workers (18-78 years) who attended a nutritional survey.