title: No association between the frequency of forest walking and blood pressure levels or the prevalence of hypertension in a cross-sectional study of a Japanese population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the non-temporary effects of successive walks in forested areas (shinrin-yoku) on hypertension prevalence and blood pressure levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data for the analysis were derived from the baseline survey of the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort (J-MICC) study in the Shizuoka area. Eligible participants were individuals aged 35-69 years who attended a health check-up center during 2006 and 2007. Of the 5,040 individuals who participated in the J-MICC study, Shizuoka, 4,666 were included in this analysis [3,174 men and 1,492 women; age (mean ± standard deviation) 52.1 ± 8.7 years]. The frequency of forest walking was estimated by a self-administrated questionnaire. Hypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg, a diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg or, based on information provided in the questionnaire, the use of medication for hypertension.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, alcohol consumption, and habitual exercise, the odds ratios of hypertension associated with forest walking once a week or more frequently, relative to less than once a month were 0.98 in men [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68-1.42] and 1.48 (95% CI 0.80-2.71) in women. There was no significant trend between adjusted blood pressure levels and the frequency of forest walking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our cross-sectional study in a Japanese population show no association between either blood pressure levels or the prevalence of hypertension and the frequency of forest walking.
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Japan. emorita@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp
authors: Emi
authors: E
authors: Morita
authors: Mariko
authors: M
authors: Naito
authors: Asahi
authors: A
authors: Hishida
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Wakai
authors: Atsuyoshi
authors: A
authors: Mori
authors: Yatami
authors: Y
authors: Asai
authors: Rieko
authors: R
authors: Okada
authors: Sayo
authors: S
authors: Kawai
authors: Nobuyuki
authors: N
authors: Hamajima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016138:Walking