[Age- and sex-specific reference intervals for 10 health examination items: mega-data from a Japanese Health Service Association].
OBJECTIVE
To determine age- and sex-specific reference intervals for 10 health examination items in Japanese adults.


METHODS
Health examination data were accumulated from 24 different prefectural health service associations affiliated with the Japan Association of Health Service. Those who were non-smokers, drank less than 7 days/week, and had a body mass index of 18.5-24.9kg/m2 were sampled as a reference population (n = 737,538; 224,947 men and 512,591 women). After classified by age and sex, reference intervals for 10 health examination items (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, uric acid, AST, ALT, gamma-GT, and hemoglobin) were estimated using the parametric and nonparametric methods.


RESULTS
In every item except for hemoglobin, men had higher reference intervals than women. Systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and glucose showed an upward trend in values with increasing age. Hemoglobin showed a downward trend in values with increasing age. Triglyceride, ALT, and gamma-GT reached a peak in middle age. Overall, parametric estimates showed narrower reference intervals than non-parametric estimates.


CONCLUSIONS
Reference intervals vary with age and sex. Age- and sex-specific reference intervals may contribute to better assessment of health examination data.
Suka
Machi
M
Department of Preventive Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki 216-8511.
Yoshida
Katsumi
K
Kawai
Tadashi
T
Aoki
Yoshikazu
Y
Yamane
Noriyuki
N
Yamauchi
Kuniaki
K
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D044466:Asian People; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000592:standards*; D012016:Reference Values; D017678:Sex Distribution