Effect of COVID-19 Infection on Presenteeism: Cohort Study Using Large Health Insurance-Based Data in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: Presenteeism occurs when employees attend work despite experiencing problems and ill-health that require sick leave. This study examined whether presenteeism worsened following COVID-19 infection. METHODS: We used the DeSC, a large health insurance claims database. Participants were 9,241 individuals who responded to questionnaires at baseline (June 2020) and 6 months later, had been continuously insured for at least 6 months prior to baseline, and reported being employed. Propensity score matching was performed. Adjusted multiple logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of worsening presenteeism from baseline according to COVID-19 infection compared with non-infection. RESULTS: Conditional logistic regression analysis showed that the adjusted OR for presenteeism in the COVID-19 infected group was 1.555 (95% CI, 1.086-2.225). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that COVID-19 infection affected worsening of presenteeism.

Impact of COVID-19 Infection on Health-Related Quality of Life in the Japanese Population: A Large Health-Insurance-Based Database Study.

Evidence for acute or long-term coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is relatively limited. We aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 infection on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the Japanese population. Eligible study participants were 13,365 employees and their dependents who answered questionnaires at baseline and 18 months later and who had at least 6 months of continuous enrolment before and after baseline. Of the 711 study participants who developed COVID-19 infection, 29.0% reported a decline in HRQoL, whereas 25.2% of uninfected participants reported a decline. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the association between COVID-19 infection and declines in HRQoL in the age categories of less than 30 years, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60 years or higher were 0.54 (0.15-1.92), 1.70 (1.03-2.81), 1.14 (0.82-1.57), 1.05 (0.77-1.42), and 0.87 (0.46-1.64), respectively. This study demonstrates a differential association between COVID-19 infection and declines in HRQoL by age group. A 1.7-fold increase in the odds of negative changes in HRQoL was observed in only those in their 30s. Further studies are needed to elucidate differences in the impact of COVID-19 infection on HRQoL between younger people such as those in their 30s and the older population.

Participation in the Setouchi Triennale and the Health of Residents in Naoshima: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Arts festivals have become increasingly popular in various parts of Japan in recent years. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between arts festival activities participation at the Setouchi Triennale and the health of residents in the town of Naoshima. This was a cross-sectional study. Questionnaires were distributed to all residents of Naoshima who were 20 years old or older (n=2,588). We analyzed responses from 708 people. The associations between arts festival activities participation and health (measured by self-rated health) were analyzed using logistic regression analysis as the primary outcome. Kessler's psychological distress scale scores were also analyzed in the same manner as the primary outcome. The participating group had an adjusted odds ratio of 1.86 (95% confidence interval: 1.03-3.33) for higher self-rated health compared with those who did not participate. Kessler's psychological distress scale results showed that the participating group had an adjusted odds ratio of 3.23 (95% confidence interval: 1.19-8.81) for lower psychological distress compared with those who did not participate. In conclusion, arts festival activities participation was associated with higher self-rated health and lower psychological distress. However, caution must be taken in regard to generalizability and causality when interpreting these results.

Does Participation in the Setouchi Triennale Foster Social Capital? : A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study examined whether participation in an art project was associated with higher social capital (SC). We conducted a questionnaire survey from November 2021 to March 2022 among residents aged 20 years or older of Naoshima, an island in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. Before the survey, the Setouchi Triennale had been held on Naoshima four times, starting in 2010. We calculated propensity scores for Triennale participation and performed propensity score matching. We then compared cognitive and structural SC by Triennale participation and found significant differences, respectively. We adopted a conditional ordered logistic regression analysis with propensity score matching for cognitive or structural SC, and found adjusted odd ratios of 2.913 (95%CI, 1.846-4.596) for cognitive SC and 4.535 (95%CI, 2.839-7.244) for structural SC. Our findings suggest that Triennale participation enhanced the cognitive aspect of SC while also building structural SC.

Association between Radon Hot Spring Bathing and Health Conditions: A Cross-Sectional Study in Misasa, Japan.

No epidemiological studies have examined the health effects of daily bathing in radon hot springs. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the associations between radon hot spring bathing and health conditions. The target population was 5,250 adults ≥ 20 years old in the town of Misasa, Japan. We collected information about the participants' bathing habits and alleviation of a variety of disease symptoms, and their self-rated health (SRH). Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. In both the adjusted and unadjusted models of hypertension, significant associations between the > 1×/week hot spring bathing and the alleviation of hypertension symptoms were observed compared to the group whose hot spring bathing was <1×/week: adjusted model, OR 5.40 (95%CI: 1.98-14.74); unadjusted model, 3.67 (1.50-8.99) and for gastroenteritis: adjusted model, 9.18 (1.15-72.96); unadjusted model, 7.62 (1.59-36.49). Compared to the no-bathing group, higher SRH was significantly associated with both bathing < 1×/week: unadjusted model, 2.27 (1.53-3.37) and > 1×/week: adjusted model, 1.91 (1.15-3.19). These findings suggest that bathing in radon hot springs is associated with higher SRH and the alleviation of hypertension and gastroenteritis.

Effects of Tanden Breathing on Constipation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Tanden breathing, an ancient health technique, involves expiratory abdominal pressure breathing is practiced in Japan. In this study we examined the ability of Tanden breathing to relieve constipation. The study was designed as a stratified-block randomized controlled trial enrolling 20 participants. Nineteen were female and one was male, none were elderly. During the 6-week intervention period, the participants performed video-guided Tanden breathing about 10 min once day. We evaluated constipation using the Constipation Assessment Scale (CAS). There were significant differences in the mean CAS score between time points (baseline, 3 weeks after baseline, 6 weeks after baseline), groups (intervention and control), and their interaction (time×group) using repeated-measures analysis of variance. The control group showed no change in the mean CAS score; the mean CAS scores of the intervention group changed from 7.2 at baseline to 3.9 at 3 weeks and 3.1 at 6 weeks after baseline. A regression analysis of the difference in the mean CAS between baseline and 6 weeks later showed that the CAS of the intervention group was 4.3 points lower than that of the control group (95% confidence interval, 2.5-6.1). The results suggested that Tanden breathing is effective in relieving constipation among young women.

Clinical moderators of response to nalmefene in a randomized-controlled trial for alcohol dependence: An exploratory analysis.

BACKGROUND: Nalmefene is the only medication marketed to reduce the consumption of alcohol in patients with alcohol dependence, but it remains unclear which patients could most benefit from it. This study aimed to identify clinical moderators that affect treatment response to nalmefene in patients with alcohol dependence. METHODS: In a multicenter, randomized, controlled, double-blind, phase 3 study of nalmefene on Japanese patients with alcohol dependence, the relationship between the reduction of heavy drinking days (HDD) and total alcohol consumption (TAC) at 12 and 24 weeks of treatment and baseline variables of the participants were analyzed in a linear regression and multiple adjusted analysis. RESULTS: Age < 65, no family history of problem drinking, age at onset of problem drinking ≥ 25, and not currently smoking were possible positive moderators. Nalmefene showed a significant HDD reduction in patients with age < 65 or no family history of problem drinking, and a significant TAC reduction in patients with age at onset of problem drinking ≥ 25 or who were not currently smoking. After multiple adjusted analyses, age < 65 (p = .028), no family history of problem drinking (p = .047), and age at onset of problem drinking ≥ 25 (p = .030) were statistically significant. Not currently smoking (p = .071) was marginally significant. In combination, these moderators indicated synergistic effects. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol-dependent patients with favorable prognostic factors such as non-smoking status, no family history of problem drinking, and a late-onset of problem drinking selectively benefit from nalmefene. Further research is needed to validate these exploratory results.

Emergency Dispatches for Suicide Attempts During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Okayama, Japan: A Descriptive Epidemiological Study.

BACKGROUND: Hardships associated with the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic can affect mental health, potentially leading to increased risk of suicide. We examined the relationship between the COVID-19 outbreak and suicide attempts in Okayama, Japan using information from emergency dispatches. METHODS: This was a descriptive epidemiological study. We collected information on emergency dispatches in Okayama City and Kibichuo from March to August in 2018, 2019, and 2020 (n = 47,770 cases). We compared emergency dispatches and their demographic characteristics, especially focusing on suicide attempts, during these 3 years. RESULTS: The number of emergency dispatches in 2020 decreased compared with the previous 2 years, while the number and proportion of emergency dispatches related to suicide attempts increased. This increase was more pronounced among women and those aged 25-49 years. Among women aged 25-49 years, there was a cumulative total of 43 suicide attempts in 2018 and 2019 and 73 suicide attempts in 2020. CONCLUSIONS: The number and proportion of emergency dispatches related to suicide attempts increased in 2020 compared with the previous 2 years, especially among women and those aged 25-49 years. This increase may be partly explained by hardships, such as economic losses or reduced social ties, during the COVID-19 outbreak.