Changes in the frequency and amount of alcohol intake before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: Concerns have been raised regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol consumption patterns, which can have implications for public health. In this descriptive study, we aimed to show the change in the frequency and amount of alcohol consumption in Japan before and during the COVID-19 pandemic periods.

Methods: We analyzed data from annual health checkups among Japanese workers from April 2018 to March 2021.

Trends in Participation in Rubella Antibody Testing among Working-Aged Men during Annual Health Check-Ups from 2019 to 2022 in Japan.

In 2019, the Japanese government established a scheme for rubella antibody testing of men born between 1962 and 1978 during workplace health check-ups. However, the use of vouchers for rubella antibody testing was limited. Health check-up data analyses are needed to determine the reason why rubella antibody testing is not widely used.

Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate and Hearing Impairment in Japan: A Longitudinal Analysis Using Large-Scale Occupational Health Check-Up Data.

Several longitudinal studies have examined associations between renal dysfunction and hearing impairment. Here, we explored the longitudinal association between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and hearing impairment among the working-age population in Japan. Participants were 88,425 males and 38,722 females aged 20-59 years, without hearing impairment at baseline (2013), who attended Japanese occupational annual health check-ups from 2013 to 2020 fiscal year.

Metabolic Syndrome and the Increased Risk of Medically Certified Long-term Sickness Absence: A Prospective Analysis Among Japanese Workers.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been associated with various chronic diseases that may lead to long-term sickness absence (LTSA), but there is lacking information on the direct association between MetS and LTSA. The present study aimed to investigate the all-cause and cause-specific associations between MetS and the risk of medically certified LTSA among Japanese workers.

Methods: We recruited 67,403 workers (57,276 men and 10,127 women), aged 20-59 years from 13 companies in Japan during their health check-ups in 2011 (11 companies) and 2014 (2 companies), and we followed them for LTSA events (≥30 consecutive days) until March 31, 2020.

Non-High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: The Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study.

Aims: We aimed to investigate the association between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its subtypes.

Methods: In this contemporary cohort study, we analyzed the data of 63,814 Japanese employees aged ≥ 30 years, without known CVD in 2012 and who were followed up for up to 8 years. The non-HDL-C level was divided into 5 groups: ＜110, 110-129, 130-149, 150-169, and ≥ 170 mg/dL.

Hepatic Steatosis Index and Chronic Kidney Disease among Middle-Aged Individuals: A Large-Scale Study in Japan.

Background: Though nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is related to chronic kidney disease (CKD), it is unclear whether the hepatic steatosis index (HSI), a screening tool for NAFLD, is related to CKD. The present study investigated the relationship between HSI and CKD among middle-aged individuals in Japan.

Methods: Subjects were adults (aged 40-64 years) who received an annual health checkup in Japan between April 2013 and March 2014.

Visit-to-visit variability of blood pressure and cardiovascular events among the working-age population in Japan: findings from the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study.

Increased visit-to-visit variability (VVV) of blood pressure, which is calculated based on several readings, has been suggested to be a significant predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality, independent of mean blood pressure. This study examined associations between the VVV of systolic blood pressure (SBP) measured annually and cardiovascular disease (CVD) events among 72,617 Japanese subjects. Data were obtained from the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study, which is an ongoing epidemiological survey of workers in Japan.

Prediabetes, Diabetes, and the Risk of All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality in a Japanese Working Population: Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study.

Objective: Prediabetes has been suggested to increase risk for death; however, the definitions of prediabetes that can predict death remain elusive. We prospectively investigated the association of multiple definitions of prediabetes with the risk of death from all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer in Japanese workers.

Research Design And Methods: The study included 62,785 workers who underwent a health checkup in 2010 or 2011 and were followed up for death from 2012 to March 2019.

Elevated alanine aminotransferase and low aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio are associated with chronic kidney disease among middle-aged women: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to ALT ratio (AST/ALT ratio) have been shown to be related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or insulin resistance, which was associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, it is unclear whether ALT and AST/ALT ratio are associated with CKD. In this study, we examined the relationship of ALT and AST/ALT ratio to CKD among middle-aged females in Japan.

Eating quickly is associated with a low aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio in middle-aged adults: a large-scale cross-sectional survey in Japan.

Background: An elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and a low aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to ALT ratio (AST/ALT ratio) suggest nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, increasing the risk of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition, eating quickly has been found to be associated with outcomes such as obesity. This study sought to investigate the relationship between eating quickly and an elevated ALT or a low AST/ALT ratio in Japanese middle-aged adults.

A nationwide cross-sectional survey on hepatitis B and C screening among workers in Japan.

In Japan, there is no publicly funded screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections (using HBs antigen and HCV antibody, respectively) among workers, and workplace health programmes play a crucial role in reducing viral hepatitis-related deaths. The national number of hepatitis screening tests conducted in the workplace is unknown. To provide baseline data for policy formulation, we conducted a nationwide survey to estimate these parameters using data from approximately 10.

Clustering of Lifestyle Factors and Its Association with Low Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study of Over 400,000 Japanese Adults.

Purpose: Although many studies have indicated the association between low back pain (LBP) and lifestyle factors, the combined effect of lifestyle factors on LBP has not been adequately investigated. We aimed to investigate the association between a cluster of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and LBP using a large cohort of Japanese adults.

Methods: We included 419,003 adults aged over 20 years who underwent an annual health checkup between April 2013 and March 2014 in Japan.

Correction to: Cross-sectional study of associations between normal body weight with central obesity and hyperuricemia in Japan.

After publication of this article [1], it was brought to our attention that there is an error in the Table 5, which "Cases" should be revised to "HU" in Table 5. The original publication has been corrected.

BMI and Medically Certified Long-Term Sickness Absence Among Japanese Employees.

Objective: In contrast to the association between excess weight and sickness absence (SA), the association in relation to underweight has been under-researched. This study aimed to examine the effects of BMI at both extremes of its distribution on SA.

Methods: Data came from the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health study of 77,760 workers aged 20 to 59 years (66,166 males, 11,594 females).

Trajectories of body mass index and waist circumference before the onset of diabetes among people with prediabetes.

Background & Aims: To investigate trajectories of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) among prediabetic people who progressed to diabetes, people who remained with prediabetes, and those who returned to normoglycemia.

Methods: We used data from 22,945 prediabetic people who received an annual health checkup for up to eight years. The development of diabetes was defined using the American Diabetes Association criteria.

Cross-sectional study of associations between normal body weight with central obesity and hyperuricemia in Japan.

Background: Several studies have shown that normal weight with central obesity (NWCO) is associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes. However, the relationship between NWCO and hyperuricemia has not been studied in detail.

Methods: We investigated the association between NWCO and hyperuricemia among Japanese adults aged 40-64 years who had undergone periodic health examinations between April 2013 and March 2014.

Associations between normal weight central obesity and cardiovascular disease risk factors in Japanese middle-aged adults: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Several studies have shown that normal weight central obesity (NWCO) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. However, studies conducted in the Japanese population have been very limited. Thus, the relationships between normal weight central obesity, classified using body mass index (BMI), the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and CVD risk factors in middle-aged Japanese adults were investigated.

Association between anthropometric indices of obesity and risk of cardiovascular disease in Japanese men.

Objectives: We aimed to compare the association of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among middle-aged working Japanese men.

Methods: A nested case-control study was performed among middle-aged male employees who underwent periodic health checkup. A total of 241 CVD cases were identified and matched individually on age, gender, and worksite with 1205 controls.

Smoking and Long-Term Sick Leave in a Japanese Working Population: Findings of the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study.

Background: Few studies have investigated the association between tobacco smoking and sick leave (SL) in Japan.

Methods: We followed 70 896 workers aged 20-59 years (60 133 males, 10 763 females) between April 2012 and March 2017. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to investigate the associations between smoking (smoking status and intensity) and long-term SL (ie, SL lasting ≥30 consecutive days).

Smoking cessation after long-term sick leave due to cancer in comparison with cardiovascular disease: Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study.

In occupational settings, smokers may take quitting smoking seriously if they experienced long-term sick leave due to cancer or cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, no study has elucidated the smoking cessation rate after long-term sick leave. We examined the smoking cessation rate after long-term sick leave due to cancer and CVD in Japan.

Sex differences in the association of metabolic syndrome with low back pain among middle-aged Japanese adults: a large-scale cross-sectional study.

Background: Although some recent studies have indicated an association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and musculoskeletal disease, little is known about the association of MetS with low back pain (LBP). The present study aimed to investigate sex differences in the association of MetS and the clustering of MetS components with LBP among middle-aged Japanese individuals.

Methods: Study subjects were 45,192 adults (30,695 men, 14,497 women) aged 40-64 years who underwent annual health checkups conducted from April 2013 to March 2014.

Association of the combination of weight gain after 20 years of age and current obesity with chronic kidney disease in Japan: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Weight gain after 20 years of age is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the impact of weight gain on CKD might differ by current obesity status. We investigated the association of the combination of weight gain after 20 years of age and current obesity with CKD among adults in Japan.