[Trends for left ventricular echocardiographic findings and their related factors--a ten-year follow-up study in rural and urban Japanese populations].
There has been a substantial decline in physical activity in Japan due to mechanization and motorization, and also a decline in blood pressure levels. These trends are more evident in rural populations than in urban. The potential effects of these changes on left ventricular echocardiographic findings were studied among Akita men (rural area) and Osaka men (urban area). Results of a ten-year follow-up study performed between 1975-85 and 1988-1994 on 296 men aged 30-65 without antihypertensive medication use at base line were as follows: Among Akita men, left ventricular diastolic dimension did not change but mean wall thickness decreased, resulting in a decline in mean left ventricular mass. Among Osaka men, there was a small increase in mean left ventricular diastolic dimension, but no significant changes in either mean wall thickness or mean left ventricular mass. A decline in mean wall thickness and mean left ventricular mass among Akita men was primarily observed in men who were involved in heavy manual work at baseline. Among Osaka men, mean wall thickness or mean left ventricular mass did not change in either men involved in heavy manual work or men not involved. Among Akita men, decline in mean wall thickness and mean left ventricular mass was seen in both hypertensives and normotensives. Among Osaka men, mean wall thickness or mean left ventricular mass did not change in either subgroup. According to multiple regression analysis controlling for age, body mass index, alcohol intake, and diastolic blood pressure, heavy manual work was significantly associated with ventricular mass among Akita men in 1975-85, but no more significant in 1988-94, while heavy manual work was not related to left ventricular mass among Osaka men in either time period. These results indicate that a decline in physical activity caused a decline in mean wall thickness and mean left ventricular mass among Akita men.
Kiyama
M
M
Department of Epidemiology and Mass Examination, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases.
D000328:Adult; D004452:Echocardiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population; D016276:Ventricular Function