Epidemiological and Clinical Studies of Lifestyle-induced Health Problems in Rural Areas / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

Urbanization is progressing gradually in rural areas, but there still are large differences between rural areas near major cities and those far from them. In order to determine differences between these two types of rural areas, we compared the results of group medical examinations conducted in 1997 and 1999 in villages near Hiroshima City (rural area A), Hiraka-gun in Akita Prefecture and Minamisaku-gun in Nagano Prefecture, rural areas far from major cities (rural area B), and villages near Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture, rural areas in-between rural areas A and B (rural area C). The results of group medical examinations conducted in 1995 and 2000 were compared in each area to determined changes in the five years. A questionnaire survey on eating habits and life style was conducted during the group medical examinations in the 4 areas in order to evaluate the effects of life style on health-related parameters. In addition, mean health-related parameters were compared before and after exercise (at least 8, 000 steps per day) in the 4 areas in order to evaluate the effects of exercise on health. HDL cholesterol levels increased significantly in each area and overall in only 3 months. Findings obtained in areas where data from a non-exercise control group were obtained indicated that exercise inhibited increases in the percent of body fat.<BR>A study on the effects of exercise on life style-related diseases and QOL of patients was conducted in Ibaraki Prefecture. No apparent correlation was seen between exercise and QOL in patients with myocardial infarction, but exercise showed a tendency to increase the QOL score in patients with good cardiac function. In diabetic patients, exercise seemed to improve not only glucose tolerance but patients' QOL as well. In hypertensive patients, exercise reduced blood pressure and improved patients' QOL. In addition, co-investigators in each area conducted the following area-specific studies Akita Prefecture, 1) study on the relationship between the survival rate and the results of group medical examinations by age and the life style and 2) study on the effects of eating habits on health-related parameters; Nagano, study on the effects of primary prevention in the life style; Shimane, 1) cross sectional survey on the life style and health and 2) clinical epidemiological study on multiple risk factor syndrome in rural areas; and Hiroshima, study on the effects of education and guidance in high-risk patients receiving regular medical examinations.