Gender-specific factors associated with the Japanese version of the trail making test among Japanese workers.

[Purpose] The Trail Making Test is a valuable tool for predicting the transition from mild cognitive impairment to dementia. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate gender-specific factors associated with the Trail Making Test using body composition and motor function among Japanese workers. [Participants and Methods] Demographic data, body composition, motor function, and cognitive and attentional functions (Trail Making Test, Part B) were analyzed among 627 workers who underwent health assessments during the 2019 fiscal year. After conducting univariate analysis, multiple regression analysis was performed. [Results] The presence of metabolic syndrome risk factors was found to significantly prolonged the performance time of the Trail Making Test-B in male workers. In addition, low fat-free mass and the 30-second chair stand test also significantly prolonged the performance time of the Trail Making Test-B in male workers. Among female workers, the presence of metabolic syndrome risk factors affected the performance time of the Trail Making Test-B. Therefore, MetS risk factors affect the performance times of the Trail Making Test-B in both male and female workers. [Conclusion] As male and female workers exhibit different body composition and motor function items in the Trail Making Test-B, gender differences should be considered when formulating measures to prevent cognitive and attentional decline.

Differences in determinants affecting longitudinal change of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity due to differences in baseline among Japanese male workers.

[Purpose] No study has examined whether the determinants of longitudinal changes in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity differ depending on the baseline brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity values. Therefore, this study aimed to extract these determinants in high- and low-value groups based on the FY2014 brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity values. [Participants and Methods] Participants were 97 male workers who underwent continuous health assessments from FY2014 to four years later. Their demographic, lifestyle, body-composition, and hemodynamic data were recorded. First-year data were subtracted from data obtained four years later for each continuous variable item, and the difference divided by the number of years was considered as the annual change. Based on the first-year median brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, participants were classified into high- and low-brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity groups, i.e., high- and low-value groups, respectively. Multiple regression analysis was performed with the annual change in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity serving as the dependent variable for both groups. [Results] In comparison with the values obtained in the first year, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity obtained four years later increased significantly in the low-value group and tended to increase in the high-value group. Increased visceral fat area in the high-value group and increased diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in the low-value group were associated with worsening brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity. [Conclusion] The determinants of longitudinal changes in the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity differed depending on the baseline brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity values.

Age-Specific Determinants of Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity among Male Japanese Workers.

Prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a public health challenge. Arterial stiffness is an index that indicates the risk of developing CVD. The lifestyle habits of working generations vary greatly with age; however, no study has examined the age-specific determinants of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), an index of arterial stiffness. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to identify the age-specific determinants of baPWV. From 2014 to 2017 fiscal years, health measurements were conducted at seven companies. Overall, 1,403 men, aged between 25 and 64 years, were categorized according to age. Their lifestyle habits, body composition, and hemodynamics were recorded. Multiple regression analyses using the stepwise method revealed that higher baPWV was associated with increasing age. baPWV was also increased with increasing systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate across all age groups. The increased baPWV was significantly associated with the presence of metabolic syndrome component factors in the age group of 45-54 years, high smoking index in the age groups of 25-44 years and 55-64 years, low body mass index in the 55-64 age group, and low skeletal muscle index in the 35-54 age group. Total physical activity was inversely associated with baPWV in the two age groups of 45-54 and 55-64 years. In conclusion, hemodynamics significantly affected baPWV across all ages, while smoking index, total physical activity, body mass index, and skeletal muscle index affected baPWV depending on the age group. Thus, age-related strategies should be established for alleviating baPWV increase.

Cohabiting with Smokers Is an Independent Factor for Worsening Arterial Stiffness Even in Smoking Workers.

Preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an urgent public health challenge. Although brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) can indicate the risk of arterial stiffness and CVD, findings regarding whether baPWV is associated with smoking are inconsistent. This study considered the influence of smoking on arteriosclerosis, specifically focusing on secondhand smoke (SHS), and aimed to construct a strategy for preventing the worsening of arteriosclerosis. We recruited 295 male employees from five companies who had smoking habits such as being smokers, living with smokers, and exposure to SHS outside the home. We measured body composition and hemodynamics, including blood pressure and baPWV, and found that baPWV had significant positive correlations with age, smoking index, alcohol consumption, body-fat percentage, blood pressure, and heart rate, and significant negative correlations with height, fat-free mass, and lower-limb muscle mass. Moreover, baPWV showed a significant adverse effect on participants who had metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. Multiple regression analysis showed that baPWV had significant positive relationships with age, height, MetS risk factors, cohabitation with smokers, blood pressure, and heart rate, and a significant negative relationship with lower-limb muscle mass. The same results were obtained when adjusting for current smoking status, smoking index, cohabitation with smokers at birth, and frequency of exposure to SHS outside the home. Exposure to tobacco smoke due to cohabitation with smokers increased baPWV regardless of the person's smoking habits. Thus, to prevent an increase in baPWV in housemates and smokers, it is necessary for smokers to quit smoking.

Frequency of Exposure to Secondhand Smoke Outside the Home Is Associated with a Lower FEV1/FVC in Male Workers Regardless of Smoking Status.

Decreased respiratory function associated with aging leads to the onset of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and increased risk of death in the elderly. Prevention of a decline in respiratory function from a young age is important. This study aimed to clarify the factors that affect decreased forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC), an index of obstructive respiratory disorder caused by airway obstruction, by considering the influence of body composition and lifestyle. We recruited 262 employed adult men and determined their lifestyle-related factors, including smoking status, past or current secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, exposure to SHS outside the home, and physical activity (PA). Body composition and respiratory function were also measured. The data were then compared with those of non-smokers using logistic regression analysis, adjusting for age. We also investigated factors influencing FEV1/FVC using multiple regression analysis, adjusting for age, height, smoking status, and lifestyle. Current smokers and heavy smokers exhibited significantly lower amounts of PA and had a higher body fat%, visceral fat area, prevalence of cohabitation with smokers, and frequency of SHS exposure outside the home, and FEV1/FVC was significantly lower in heavy smokers. A multiple regression analysis revealed that FEV1/FVC was associated only with the frequency of SHS exposure outside the home. It is important for occupational health personnel of a company to advise both non-smokers and smokers to avoid SHS to prevent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease onset. This needs to be coupled with encouragement to quit smoking, especially for heavy smokers.

Relation between respiratory function and arterial stiffness assessed using brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in healthy workers.

[Purpose] Current studies report that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may also have arteriosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between respiratory function and arterial stiffness in healthy workers using the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). [Subjects and Methods] This study included 104 male Japanese workers without COPD. We collected participant information and measured hemodynamics, body composition, and respiratory function. [Results] In the correlation analysis, baPWV showed a significant positive correlation with age, smoking index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate, and a significant negative correlation with height, fat free mass, lower limb muscle mass, forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). In multiple regression analysis using factors other than baPWV and respiratory function as adjustment variables, both FVC and FEV1 showed a significant negative relationship with baPWV (p=0.009 and p=0.027, respectively). FEV1/FVC was not significantly related to baPWV (p=0.704). [Conclusion] The results of this study indicated that FEV1/FVC and the proportion of FEV1 predicted, which are indicators of airflow limitation, are not predictors of baPWV in workers without airflow limitation. However, since baPWV showed a significant negative relationship with FVC and FEV 1, the reduction in respiratory function that does not cause airflow limitation, such as FVC or FEV1 decline, may be related to an increase in the risk of arterial stiffness.