title: Current status of health among workers in Japan: Results from the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study.
abstract: Data are limited on the sex-specific prevalence of diseases and their risk factors in middle-aged and older workers in Japan. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the age- and sex-specific prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome (defined using joint statement criteria), obesity, underweight, abdominal obesity, and smoking among approximately 70,000 to 90,000 Japanese workers (predominantly men) aged 20-69 years in 2014. We also investigated the prevalence of low cardiorespiratory fitness in 2012 and no leisure-time exercise in 2014. In both sexes, the prevalence of lifestyle-related risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and abdominal obesity, was increased with aging. In contrast, the prevalence of underweight was decreased with aging. Smoking prevalence exceeded 30% in men regardless of age, whereas the prevalence was around 10% in women of all age groups. Prevalence of no leisure-time exercise exceeded 50% among middle-aged and older workers in both sexes. Among workers aged 50-64 years, less than half of men had low fitness, whereas more than half of women had low fitness. Given the high prevalence of lifestyle-related risk factors among middle-aged and older workers, effective strategies to prevent cardiovascular disease in this age group are needed in Japan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Bureau of International Health Cooperation, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuwahara
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uehara
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Shuichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okazaki
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogasawara
authors.forename: Ai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.forename: Chihiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nishiura
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kochi
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eguchi
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: Teppei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishihara
authors.forename: Satsue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagahama
authors.forename: Taizo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Isamu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kabe
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mizoue
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kunugita
authors.forename: Tomofumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sone
authors.forename: Seitaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dohi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001835:Body Weight; D000072599:Cardiorespiratory Fitness; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology