[Risk of death by health habit index from a cohort study among the residents of a rural area in Aichi, Japan].
To clarify the validity of the health habit index, we evaluated risk of death by health habit index in residents in Aichi Prefecture. Subjects were 7,662 residents aged 40-79 years living in a rural area of Aichi Prefecture who responded to a questionnaire in 1988, that included 12 health habit items on diet, physical activity, rest, mental health, smoking, drinking and regular health check. Data on death and migration in this cohort group was collected from 1990 to 1997. The risk ratios (RRs) of death for all causes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases were estimated by Cox's proportional hazard model. The number of all causes of death, cancer and cardiovascular diseases was 650, 240 and 197, respectively. Proper health habits of adequate but not over eating, regular physical activity, properly managing stress, non-smoking or smoking cessation for one year or more and regular health examinations in men and regular physical activity and non-smoking in women related to lower age-adjusted RR of death for all causes, while smoking cessation of less than one year in men with increased RR. Lower RR of cancer was observed for non-smoking men, and for women who occasionally have enough sleep. Proper health habits on adequate but not overeating, enjoying mealtime, regular physical activity, properly managing stress, moderate drinking (< 2 "go"/day) or occasional heavy drinking and regular health examinations related to lower RR of cardiovascular diseases in men, while regular physical activity related to lower RR in women. Multivariate analysis for the RR of death for all causes showed similar results, except higher RR in the men who avoided excess salt consumption, and decreased RR in the women who occasionally have enough sleep. In conclusion, the present study suggested that regular physical activity is associated with decreased risk from death for all causes, especially for cardiovascular diseases. Health habit index in the present study included various items with or without association to risk for death. It is important to apply this index to health promotion on the basis of its specific characteristic.
Takezaki
T
T
Division of Epidemiology, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute.
Tajima
K
K
Yoshida
M
M
Tominaga
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D012306:Risk; D012424:Rural Population