Trends and Regional Differences in the Prevalence of Dyslipidemia before and after the Great East Japan Earthquake: A Population-Based 10-Year Study Using the National Database in Japan

Abstract

Since the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, an increase in lifestyle-related diseases due to changes in living environment following the nuclear power plant accident has been reported in Fukushima Prefecture, especially among evacuees. However, no long-term studies covering the entire Fukushima Prefecture have been conducted. The study aim was to investigate the effects of post-disaster evacuation life on the prevalence of dyslipidemia in Fukushima Prefecture using a national database. The data from 3,866,674 people who underwent specific health checkups between fiscal year (FY) 2008 and FY2017 were analyzed. Fukushima Prefecture was divided into four areas, and the prevalence of dyslipidemia and related parameters were compared. The prevalence of dyslipidemia increased overall, with a particularly sharp increase after FY2011 in the evacuation area. The sex- and age-adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) of having dyslipidemia in the evacuation area compared with that in the control area was 0.951 (0.929–0.973) in FY2008–2010, which increased to 1.130 (1.105–1.155) in FY2012–2014 and 1.117 (1.092–1.143) in FY2015–2017. Since the prevalence of dyslipidemia has increased and remained high after the earthquake in Fukushima Prefecture, especially in the evacuation area, continued measures to prevent cardiovascular diseases among the residents are needed.

Reduction in all-cause medical and caregiving costs through innovative health awareness projects in a rural area in Japan: a retrospective cohort study

“…It is conducted annually using common check-up items (e.g. body composition, blood pressure, blood test results, and lifestyle habits) [ 14 , 15 ]. Unlike the CHAP, the SHC does not provide any further information, except to high-risk participants, about health issues and risks, nor does it recommend any particular lifestyle.…”

“…This is because the 5-year period is considered too short to prevent lifestyle diseases but has potential in preventing fragility. The caregiving costs were expected to be higher in residents with low motor function, which was identified only in the SHC group and the CHAP group as exercise habits (engaging in exercising that induces sweating two or more times a week for more than 30 min) (yes or no) and walking speed compared with a person of the same generation and the same sex (faster or not) [ 15 ]. Therefore, in the analysis, we excluded the no check-up group and considered the risk score of CHDs as an adjusting variable, which we were able to calculate using the check-up results.…”