Effects of Psychological and Lifestyle Factors on Metabolic Syndrome Following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident: The Fukushima Health Management Survey

Abstract

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident dramatically changed the lifestyle of residents who lived near the plant. We evaluated the association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) with specific lifestyle-and disaster-related factors in residents following the accident. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 20,920 residents who underwent both the Comprehensive Health Check and the Mental Health and Lifestyle Survey from June 2011 to March 2012. Associations between MetS and lifestyle-and disaster-related factors, including psychological distress (post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]), were estimated using logistic regression analysis, adjusted for demographic and lifestyle factors, in 2019. Results: MetS was present in 30.4% of men and 11.5% of women. There were significant differences in smoking, drinking status, and PTSD prevalence between subjects with and without MetS. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that age, quitting smoking, light to moderate drinking, and low physical activity were significantly associated with MetS. Moreover, PTSD was also significantly associated with MetS in women. Conclusions: Lifestyle-and disaster-related factors, including PTSD, were associated with MetS among subjects who lived near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident.

Trends in Lifestyle-related Diseases and Their Risk Factors After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident: Results of the Comprehensive Health Check in the Fukushima Health Management Survey

“…However, since the subjects of the CHC were the same subjects as those of the Mental Health and Lifestyle Survey of the FHMS, a combined analysis of the two is currently underway. For example, it was reported that PTSD-related symptoms were associated with MetS, 48 job changes and unemployment were associated with liver dysfunction, 49 and unemployment was associated with hyperuricemia. 50 We believe that further prospective studies will clarify the association between evacuation and lifestyle-related diseases.…”

Mental Health Consequences of the Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima Nuclear Disasters: A Scoping Review

“…In the present review, a history of diabetes was identified as a risk factor in two studies [ 33 , 40 ]. Cross-sectional studies conducted after Fukushima also showed associations between metabolic syndrome and mental health outcomes [ 73 ]. The significance of comprehensive assessments of concurrent physical and mental health may increase in the future.…”

Radiation Risk Communication by Nurses

“…This is because nurses, who look after the whole person's health, are able to assess each person individually and provide the necessary information. Since the nuclear accident, it has become clear that the rate of mental illness and lifestyle-related diseases among Fukushima residents is increasing [17,22], and it was considered that nurses have the advantage of being able to implement radiation risk communication as part of health counseling. However, nurses in Japan are not educated about the health effects of radiation during their nursing studies.…”