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Biomedical subjects

H Ueshima

Publications and source records attributed to H Ueshima.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Blood pressure and cardiovascular disease in the Asia Pacific region.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate age-, sex- and region-specific associations of blood pressure with cardiovascular diseases. DESIGN: Relative risk estimates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated from Cox models, stratified by sex and cohort, and adjusted for age at risk on individual participant data from 37 cohort studies. Repeat measurements of blood pressure were used to adjust for regression dilution bias. SETTING: Studies included in the Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration from Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 425 325 study participants. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Stroke, ischaemic heart disease, total cardiovascular death. RESULTS: During over 3 million person-years of follow-up, 5178 strokes, 3047 ischaemic heart disease events and 6899 cardiovascular deaths were observed. Continuous log-linear associations were seen between systolic blood pressure and the risks of all three endpoints down to at least 115 mmHg. In the age groups < 60, 60-69, and > or = 70 years, a 10 mmHg lower usual systolic blood pressure was associated with 54% (95% CI 53-56%), 36% (34-38%) and 25% (22-28%) lower stroke risk, and 46% (43-49%), 24% (21-28%) and 16% (13-20%) lower ischaemic heart disease risk, respectively. All associations were similar in men and women. Blood pressure was at least as strongly associated with cardiovascular events in Asian populations compared to Australasian populations. CONCLUSIONS: About half of the world's cardiovascular burden is predicted to occur in the Asia Pacific region. Blood pressure is an important determinant of this burden, with considerable potential benefit of blood pressure lowering down to levels of at least 115 mmHg systolic blood pressure.

Aged↗

The effects of diabetes on the risks of major cardiovascular diseases and death in the Asia-Pacific region.

OBJECTIVE: To provide reliable age- and region-specific estimates of the associations between diabetes and major cardiovascular diseases and death in populations from the Asia-Pacific region. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Twenty-four cohort studies from Asia, Australia, and New Zealand (median follow-up, 5.4 years) provided individual participant data from 161,214 people (58% from Asia) of whom 4,873 had a history of diabetes at baseline. The associations of diabetes with the risks of coronary heart disease, stroke, and cause-specific mortality during follow-up were estimated using time-dependent Cox models, stratified by study cohort and sex and adjusted for age at risk. RESULTS: In all, 9,277 deaths occurred (3,635 from cardiovascular disease). The hazard ratio (95% CI) associated with diabetes was 1.97 (1.72-2.25) for fatal cardiovascular disease; there were similar hazard ratios for fatal coronary heart disease, fatal stroke, and composites of fatal and nonfatal outcomes. For all cardiovascular outcomes, hazard ratios were similar in Asian and non-Asian populations and in men and women, but were greater in younger than older individuals. For noncardiovascular death, the hazard ratio was 1.56 (1.38-1.77), with separately significant increases in the risks of death from renal disease, cancer, respiratory infections, and other infective causes. The hazard ratio for all-causes mortality was 1.68 (1.55-1.84), with similar ratios in Asian and non-Asian populations, but with significantly higher ratios in younger than older individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The relative effect of diabetes on the risks of cardiovascular disease and death in Asian populations is much the same as that in the largely Caucasian populations of Australia and New Zealand. Hazard ratios were severalfold greater in younger people than older people. The rapidly growing prevalence of diabetes in Asia heralds a large increase in the incidence of diabetes-related death in the coming decades.

Age Distribution↗

A simple method to estimate populational 24-h urinary sodium and potassium excretion using a casual urine specimen.

In order to estimate the salt and potassium intake in a population and to compare their annual trends, we developed a simple method to estimate population mean levels of 24-h urinary sodium (24HUNaV) and potassium (24HUKV) excretion from spot urine specimens collected at any time. Using 591 Japanese data items from the INTERSALT study as a gold standard, we developed formulas to estimate 24-h urinary creatinine (24HUCrV), 24HUNaV and 24HUKV using both spot and 24-h urine collection samples. To examine the accuracy of the formulas, we applied these equations to 513 external manual workers. The obtained formulas were as follows: (1) PRCr (mg/day) = -2.04 x age + 14.89 x weight (kg) + 16.14 x height (cm) -2244.45; (2) estimated 24HUNaV (mEq/day) = 21.98 x XNa (0.392); (3) estimated 24HUKV (mEq/day) = 7.59 x XK(0.431); where PRCr = predicted value of 24HUCr, SUNa = Na concentration in the spot voiding urine, SUK = K concentration in the spot voiding urine, SUCr = creatinine concentration in the spot voiding urine, XNa (or XK) = SUNa (or SUK)/SUCr x PRCr. In the external group, there was a significant but small difference between the estimated and measured values in sodium (24.0 mmol/day) and potassium (3.8 mmol/day) excretion. In every quintile divided by the estimated 24HUNaV or 24HUKV, the measured values were parallel to the estimated values. In conclusion, although this method is not suitable for estimating individual Na and K excretion, these formulas are considered useful for estimating population mean levels of 24-h Na and K excretion, and are available for comparing different populations, as well as indicating annual trends of a particular population.

Adult↗

A cross-sectional study on association of calcium intake with blood pressure in Japanese population.

To investigate the association of calcium intake independently of other nutrients already known as predictors of hypertension, a cross-sectional study was carried out on the same population in Japan as used for the INTERSALT study. Dietary calcium intake was estimated from a 1-day 24-h recall. Sodium and potassium intakes were evaluated by 24-h urinary excretion. Data from 476 subjects aged 20-59 years, 230 men and 246 women, were analysed. The mean dietary calcium intake ranged from 557 to 608 mg/day among men, and from 528 to 639 mg/day among women. Among men, the pooled estimate of the regression coefficients of blood pressure (mm Hg) per 100 mg increase of calcium intake, adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI), were -0.42 mm Hg for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and -0.35 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure (DBP), but there was no statistical significance. Among women, the pooled estimates of regression coefficients adjusted for age and BMI were -0.92 mm Hg for SBP and -0.83 mm Hg for DBP with statistical significance. After adjustment for age, BMI, alcohol intake and urinary excretion of sodium and potassium, the pooled estimate of calcium intake was -0.66 mm Hg for DBP with statistical significance and -0.70 mm Hg for SBP. A significant negative association of calcium intake with blood pressure was observed among the subjects in Osaka. Our study suggests that increased calcium intake may provide a benefit of lowering blood pressure independently of other minerals such as sodium and potassium.

Adult↗

Generational and regional differences in trends of mortality from ischemic heart disease in Japan from 1969 to 1992.

The authors compared generational and regional trends of premature mortality from ischemic heart disease (IHD) from 1969 to 1992 for persons aged 30-69 years. They selected Tokyo and Osaka prefectures as the most urbanized and compared them with the rest of Japan. The data were divided into two periods: period I (1969-1978, International Classification of Diseases, Eight Revision) and period II (1979-1992, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision). In both populations, IHD mortality decreased for both sexes, but mortality from nonspecific heart disease remained constant in men and decreased in women. In Tokyo and Osaka prefectures, the percentage decline per year in IHD mortality for both sexes was significantly smaller in period II than in period I. However, in the rest of Japan, it did not decrease for either sex. Age-specific analysis showed that the percentage decline per year in period II was smallest for the group aged 30-49 years (men, 0.05%; women, 0.76%) in Tokyo and Osaka prefectures, while it was similar for all age groups in the rest of Japan. For men, the IHD mortality rate in 1991-1992 for those aged 30-49 years was higher in Tokyo and Osaka prefectures (9.4/100,000) than in the rest of Japan (5.4/100,000).

Adult↗

Absence of an association between serum uric acid and mortality from cardiovascular disease: NIPPON DATA 80, 1980-1994. National Integrated Projects for Prospective Observation of Non-communicable Diseases and its Trend in the Aged.

Although elevated serum uric acid has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, its importance as a risk factor is still controversial. The authors examined the relationship between serum uric acid levels and death from all causes, including cardiovascular disease and stroke. The baseline data were collected in the National Cardiovascular Survey in 1980. The survey was carried out for all household members aged 30 years or older in 300 districts, which were randomly selected throughout Japan. The number who participated in the survey was 10,897. The vital status was ascertained in 1994. Finally, 8172 subjects were available for the analyses. There were 108,284 person-years of follow-up, and 960 deaths from all causes, 249 deaths from cardiovascular disease, and 174 deaths from stroke. After adjustment for age and other cardiovascular disease risk factors, uric acid levels were not associated with mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, or stroke. These findings indicate that serum uric acid levels are not related to increased risk for death from all causes, including cardiovascular disease and stroke in a Japanese population.

Adult↗

Coronary heart disease mortality among men aged 35-44 years by prefecture in Japan in 1995-1999 compared with that among white men aged 35-44 by state in the United States in 1995-1998: vital statistics data in recent birth cohort.

The levels of risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) in men in the post World War II (WWII) birth cohort are almost similar between Japan and the USA, except for the considerably higher prevalence of cigarette smoking in Japan and the much higher prevalence of obesity in the USA. The present study evaluated the CHD mortality among men in the post WWII birth cohort by prefecture in Japan in 1995-1999 and then compared the data with those for white men in different states in the USA. There was a greater than 2-fold difference in CHD mortality among men aged 35-44 by prefecture in Japan: 5.3/100,000 in Kumamoto vs 12.6/100,000 in Tochigi. CHD mortality among men aged 35-44 in the top 3 prefectures in Japan is about half that of white men in the USA and is similar to that of white men in the lowest 3 states. The much lower CHD mortality in Japan does not appear to be caused by differences in the classification of causes of death and the results suggest that there may be strong and important protective factors that reduce the risk of CHD in Japan.

Adult↗

[Estimated relative and absolute risk for cardiovascular disease according to alcohol consumption increase in Japanese general population].

To calculate the estimated relative and absolute risks for cardiovascular diseases according to alcohol consumption increase, we performed a cross-sectional study of men aged 40-79 years using the data from the National Survey of Circulatory Disorders 1990 in Japan. First, we investigated the association between alcohol intake and two types of biochemical variables: serum lipids and blood pressure, by using analysis of variance. Then, concerning the subjects aged 40-59 years, linear regression analyses between alcohol intake and these biochemical markers were done to calculate regression coefficients adjusted for confounding factors. Finally, we substituted these regression coefficients for previously reported regression coefficients in Cox proportional hazard models to calculate relative and absolute risks for coronary heart disease and stroke. Alcohol intake positively correlated to systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC). However, there was no relation between alcohol intake and serum total cholesterol. Linear regression coefficients of SBP, DBP and HDLC were 2.25, 1.43, 2.70, respectively. We used two proportional hazard regression formulas of Japanese population: one for coronary disease (Circulation 89, 2533-39) and the other for stroke (NIPPON DATA80, a 14-year cohort study of randomly selected Japanese). The estimated relative risks of coronary heart disease and stroke were 0.89 and 1.06 for 1 "go" (23 g of ethanol) increment of alcohol intake. The results indicate that the mortality rates shift from 0.44 to 0.39 per 1,000 person-years for coronary heart disease and from 0.76 to 0.81 per 1,000 person-years for stroke in the representative Japanese population aged 40-59 years. The absolute risk of cardiovascular disease may be unchanged if we assume 23 g increment of ethanol intake in Japan because the risk reduction in coronary heart disease was nearly equal to the risk increment in stroke.

Adult↗

Effectiveness of smoking-cessation intervention in all of the smokers at a worksite in Japan.

In Japan, the prevalence of smoking among males and females was 56.1% and 14.2%, respectively, in 1997. Male smoking prevalence was exceedingly high as compared to those in other industrialized countries. We conducted a randomized controlled intervention study on smoking cessation for all smokers in a worksite regardless of their willingness to quit smoking. All of the male smokers in a radiator manufacturing factory (n=263) were randomly allocated to an intervention group (n=132) or a control group (n=131). Subjects in the intervention group received individual counseling by a doctor, and those who signed a Smoking Cessation Declaration underwent a five-month intervention. Subjects in the control group received equivalent delayed intervention for four months. The cessation rate after the original intervention was 12.9% (17/132) and 3.1% (4/131) in the intervention and control groups, respectively (p=0.003). Among those who once succeeded in quitting, 48.6% (18/37) maintained cessation at the long-term survey. Overall, the cessation rate was 8.4% (22/263) and the prevalence of smoking among males significantly decreased from 62.9 to 56.7% (p=0.038). As a conclusion, intervention in all smokers at a worksite regardless of their willingness to quit is effective and impacts the overall smoking rate.

Adolescent↗

Trends in blood pressure and urinary sodium and potassium excretion in Japan: reinvestigation in the 8th year after the Intersalt Study.

Using the identical protocol of an Intersalt Study previously conducted, we undertook a new study (Intersalt-2) 8 years later. We measured changes in various factors affecting blood pressure (BP) including urinary sodium and potassium excretion in three districts of Japan: Osaka, Tochigi, and Toyama. Also we evaluated the trends in the relationships of those factors to BP. The Intersalt Study revealed that the average sodium excretion of all three study centres was high (particularly in Toyama) while potassium excretion was relatively low. The sodium/potassium ratio was therefore relatively high. The body mass index (BMI) was favourable, but the prevalence of heavy alcohol drinkers was high. Comparing the first to the second study reveals a decrease in sodium excretion in Toyama, although that area still had the highest value of the three study centres. The average potassium excretion increased only in Osaka. Sodium/potassium ratio decreased in all centres. BMI and the prevalence of heavy drinkers among the subjects of both studies were nearly the same. The trend of the relationship of sodium to BP in Osaka changed from negative to positive. In Toyama, it changed from positive to negative. It is thought that this negative relationship might occur in conjunction with a reduction in salt consumption in a population. In conclusion this study reveals that average sodium consumption in Japan remains high while potassium consumption is still low. As a factor in the prevention of hypertension, further efforts to reduce salt consumption and increase potassium intake are still needed.

Adult↗

Coronary heart disease mortality trends in men in the post World War II birth cohorts aged 35-44 in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan compared with the United States.

BACKGROUND: Since World War II, people in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan have been exposed to a westernized lifestyle. It is most likely that the post World War II cohorts (1950+) have been more exposed. We hypothesize that there would be an increase in mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD) in men aged 35-44 in these countries. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mortality from CHD in men aged 35-44 in South Korea and Taiwan has recently increased, and in Japan it has decreased. Mortality from CHD in men aged 35-44 is lower in Japan than in either South Korea or Taiwan, and much lower than in the US. National sample data and several epidemiological studies have shown that risk factors for CHD including hypercholesterolaemia and hypertension in the past decade were not much different between young adult men in Japan and the US. Based upon these risk factors, CHD death rates among post World War II cohorts should be similar in Japan and the US. However, the rates are five times higher in the US for men aged 35-44. The majority of deaths in the category of diseases of the heart were from heart failure in men in this age group in Japan; the mortality from heart failure was about three times higher than the mortality from CHD. Heart failure was rarely used in men aged 35-44 in the US. CONCLUSIONS: The continued low mortality rates from CHD in young men in Japan may be an artifact. It is possible that CHD death rates in post World War II birth cohort in Japan are similar to US rates.

Adult↗

Stroke incidence and case fatality in Shiga, Japan 1989-1993.

BACKGROUND: This paper describes incidence rates and case-fatality for sub-types of stroke using data collected in Takashima, Shiga, Japan, from 1989 to 1993 and compares these with similar registers in other parts of Japan. METHODS: Registered patients included all residents of the county who experienced a first-ever stroke. Stroke was defined as sudden onset of neurological symptoms which continued for a minimum of 24 hours or led to death. Almost all such patients are hospitalized in this country. Early case fatality was defined as patients who died within 28 days of stroke onset. Diagnosis of stroke type was based on clinical symptoms as well as computed tomography (CT) scans. RESULTS: Age-adjusted incidence rates for stroke per 100,000 population aged 35 years and older were 268.7 for men and 167.5 for women. The age-specific incidence rate of both cerebral infarction and cerebral haemorrhage increased with advancing age. The occurrence of cerebral infarction in men was twice as high as in women. The 28-day case fatality for all sub-types of stroke was 16.1% in men and 15.8% in women. Case fatality for cerebral infarction, cerebral haemorrhage, and subarachnoid haemorrhage was 10.7%, 22.4% and 28.6% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Takashima County has a moderately high stroke incidence rate and case fatality compared with other similar studies in Japan. The incidence rate of cerebral infarction in men is twice that in women, while other sub-types of stroke showed smaller differences. In order to decrease the incidence of stroke in Japan, greater efforts at primary prevention will be necessary, in particular, it is important to prevent cerebral infarction in men.

Adult↗

Changes in body mass index and its relationships to other cardiovascular risk factors among Japanese population: results from the 1980 and 1990 national cardiovascular surveys in Japan.

Few studies have attempted to investigate the changes in body mass index (BMI) and its relationship to other cardiovascular factors in Asian populations, including Japanese. Data from two national cross-sectional surveys on circulatory disorders in 1980 and 1990 in Japan were used in this study. The sample consisted of 10,556 participants in the 1980 survey and 8,385 in the 1990 survey, aged > or = 30 years. The results show that after adjusting for age, smoking, alcohol consumption (ALC) and daily life physical activity (PA), mean BMI increased 0.49 kg/m2 (95% confidence interval: 0.34-0.65) in men aged 30-59 and 0.61 kg/m2 (0.37-0.86) in those aged > or = 60 from 1980 to 1990. In women, however, mean BMI decreased 0.24 kg/m2 (-0.39 0.09) in those aged 30-59 and increased 0.38 kg/m2 (0.12-0.64) in those aged > or = 60. BMI was significantly associated with hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia. In both genders, cu-smokers had lower mean BMI than never smokers, while among the cu-smokers, mean BMI was positively associated with the number of cigarettes smoked per day. In men, BMI was positively associated with ALC and negatively associated with PA, while in women, BMI was negatively associated with ALC and positively associated with PA. The results suggest that BMI has significantly increased in men and in elderly women. BMI, even in the Japanese population who are characterized by relative low BMI, is significantly associated with several cardiovascular risk factors.

Adult↗

[Randomized controlled trial for smoking cessation among city office employees].

To evaluate the effect of a smoking cessation program by health professionals, a randomized intervention study was carried out in the Omihachiman city office in 1993. Participants (n = 53), volunteers from current smokers in the city office, were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received intensive education for five months (i.e., the effect of smoking on health, the beneficial aspects of quitting smoking, how to stop smoking and how to deal with the withdrawal symptoms). Group lectures (two times) and individual counseling (three times) were used for health education. After five months, the control group was also given the same advice on smoking cessation. Comparison of smoking cessation rates between the two groups was performed at the end of the intervention period. Follow-up of all participants occurred at six and 12 months post intervention. After the five months of intervention, smoking cessation rate in the intervention group (19.2%) tended to be higher than that in the control group (7.4%), but was not significant (chi 2 = 1.62). Over all smoking cessation rates of all participants (n = 53) at the end of the 10 month intervention was 32.1% and at six months and 1 year after the end of the 10 month intervention were 24.5% and 13.2%, respectively. Comparison of participants who successfully stopped smoking and those who did not, it was revealed that younger age, lower expired air CO concentration (p < 0.01), and attitude for smoking cessation at the beginning were significantly related to smoking cessation. In our study, after five months, smoking cessation rate in the intervention group was about two times that of the control group, although the effectiveness of our smoking cessation program could not be validated due to small sample size. Taking into account the rate of smoking cessation after one year, We believe that programs by health professionals are effective for smoking cessation.

Adult↗

Relationship of parental history of high blood pressure to blood pressure: combined findings of three Japanese population samples, the INTERSALT study.

The relationship of parental history of high blood pressure (HBP) to blood pressure (BP) was estimated in three Japanese population samples, totalling 591 men and women aged 20-59 years, from the INTERSALT study. Parental history of HBP was defined as reported HBP by their father and/or mother. With adjustment for antihypertensive medication, body mass index, alcohol intake, and Na/K ratio in 24-h urine, for participants with a parental history of HBP compared to those without a history, BP was higher for three to four age-sex strata, both for systolic and diastolic pressure (SBP, DBP), by 3.3 to 6.8 and 2.7 to 5.5 mm Hg respectively, with four of these six positive associations statistically significant. This finding was stronger for persons aged 40-59 than for those aged 20-39. These data support the judgment that for persons with a parental history of HBP, BP is apt to increase more with age due to combined effects of genetic and environmental factors. Such people especially need to control their lifestyles carefully, including to maintain an optimal intake of salt (eg, <70 mmol/day) and a high potassium intake, to avoid high alcohol consumption, and keep weight moderate, for the prevention of hypertension.

Adult↗