Association Between Alcohol Consumption Patterns and Glaucoma in Japan.

PRCIS: In this case-control study of the Japanese population, including 3207 glaucoma cases, alcohol consumption patterns such as frequency and quantity showed a positive association with glaucoma prevalence. PURPOSE: To examine the association between alcohol consumption patterns and glaucoma. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This case-control study evaluated 3207 cases with glaucoma and 3207 matched controls. Patients over 40 years of age were included from 1,693,611 patients admitted to 34 hospitals in Japan. Detailed alcohol consumption patterns (drinking frequency, average daily drinks, and total lifetime drinks) were obtained, as well as various confounding factors, including smoking history and lifestyle-related comorbidities. Conditional logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for glaucoma prevalence. RESULTS: Drinking frequency showed an association with glaucoma for "a few days/week" (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.03-1.38) and "almost every day/week" (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.18-1.66). Average daily drinks showed an association for ">0-2 drinks/day" (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.03-1.32). Total lifetime drinks showed an association for ">60-90 drink-year" (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.01-1.49) and ">90 drink-year" (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.05-1.44). As alcohol consumption levels differed considerably between men and women, additional analyses were conducted separately for men and women. Among men, drinking frequency of "a few days/week" and "almost every day/week," average daily drinks of ">0-2 drinks/day" and ">2-4 drinks/day," and total lifetime drinks of ">60-90 drink-year" and ">90 drink-year" had an association with glaucoma. Conversely, among women, neither drinking frequency, average daily drinks, nor total lifetime drinks were associated. CONCLUSIONS: Both the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption were associated with glaucoma. Further research on gender differences is warranted.

Length of employment in workplaces handling hazardous chemicals and risk of cancer among Japanese men.

OBJECTIVES: In Japan, the risk of developing cancer among workers employed in workplaces where chemical substances are handled is unclear. This study aimed to assess the association between cancer risk and employment in workplaces handling hazardous chemicals. METHODS: The Inpatient Clinico-Occupational Survey of the Rosai Hospital Group data of 120 278 male patients with incident cancer and 217 605 hospital controls matched for 5-year age group, hospital (34 hospitals) and year of admission (2005-2019) were analysed. Cancer risk in relation to lifetime employment in workplaces using regulated chemicals was assessed while controlling for age, region and year of diagnosis, smoking, alcohol consumption and occupation. Further analysis stratified by smoking history was performed to examine interaction effects. RESULTS: In the longest group of employment in tertiles, ORs were increased for all cancers (OR=1.13; 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.19) and lung (OR=1.82; 95% CI: 1.56 to 2.13), oesophageal (OR=1.73; 95% CI: 1.18 to 2.55), pancreatic (OR=2.03; 95% CI: 1.40 to 2.94) and bladder (OR=1.40; 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.74) cancers. Employment of 1+ years was associated with risk for lung cancer; 11+ years for pancreatic and bladder cancers; and 21+ years for all cancers and oesophageal cancer. These positive relationships were particularly obvious among patients with a history of smoking; however, no significant interaction between smoking and length of employment was observed. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high risk of cancer among workers, especially smokers, employed in workplaces handling regulated chemicals in Japan. Thus, future measures for chemical management in workplaces are needed to prevent avoidable cancers.

Occupational class and risk of hepatitis B and C viral infections: A case-control study-based data from a nationwide hospital group in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Occupational class, a proxy for socio-economic status, is a known factor for health disparities. However, no study has reported the association between occupational class and the risk of viral hepatitis B and C (HBV/HCV) infections. We investigated the effects of occupational class on the prevalence of HBV/HCV infections. METHODS: This is an unmatched hospital-based case-control study that included 12,101 patients who were diagnosed with HBV infection (ICD-10, B16.0, B16.1, B16.2, B16.9, B17.0, B18.0, B18.1) or HCV infection (ICD-10, B17.1, B18.2) and 698,168 controls (those with non-HBV/HCV-related diseases) aged ≥ 20 years who were initially hospitalized between 2005 and 2019. Patients were categorized according to occupational class (blue-collar, service, professional, and manager) and industrial sector (blue-collar, service, and white-collar). Managers in the blue-collar industry were set as the reference group, and the odds ratios (ORs) for the risk of HBV and HCV infections were calculated. RESULTS: Occupational class was significantly associated with only HCV infection risk. Professionals in all industrial sectors showed the lowest risk for HCV (OR (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) = 0.69 [0.58-0.82] in the blue-collar industry, 0.52 [0.38-0.73] in the service industry, and 0.60 [0.52-0.70] in the white-collar industry). Further, after adjusting for sex, age, and region of admitting hospital, all occupational classes in the white-collar industry showed lower risks of HCV than those in the other industries (ORs= 0.58 [0.47-0.71] in blue-collar workers, 0.74 [0.64-0.84] in service workers, 0.60 [0.52-0.70] in professionals, and 0.81 [0.64-1.02] in managers in white-collar industry). CONCLUSIONS: Occupational class was closely associated with HCV infection risk only. Considering that blue-collar workers in the white-collar industry also showed a low risk, adequate measures should be taken against hepatitis, possibly because of the screening tests and cure implemented in that population.

Alcohol use patterns and risk of incident cataract surgery: a large scale case-control study in Japan.

To examine the risk of incident cataract surgery associated with alcohol use patterns among Japanese adults. This was a case-control study evaluating 14,861 patients with incident cataract surgery and 14,861 matched controls. Subjects admitted to any of the 34 hospitals in Japan and aged between 40 and 69 years were included. Drinking patterns (drinking frequency, daily average drinks, and total amount of lifetime drinking), smoking history, lifestyle-related comorbidities, and occupational factors were surveyed by trained interviewers. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression models. For drinking frequency, ORs in the 1-3 days/week and 4-7 days/week groups were 1.10 (95% CI 1.03-1.17) and 1.30 (1.21-1.40), respectively. For average drinks, ORs in > 0-2 drinks/day, > 2-4 drinks/day, and > 4 drinks/day were 1.13 (1.06-1.20), 1.23 (1.12-1.35), and 1.16 (1.03-1.31), respectively. Both men and women had an increased risk of incident cataract surgery with increased total lifetime drinking, with a significant increase in risk occurring at > 90 drink-years for men and > 40 drink-years for women. A positive dose-response relationship was observed between alcohol consumption and cataract. Restricted drinking may help to reduce the progression of cataracts.

Occupations associated with diabetes complications: A nationwide-multicenter hospital-based case-control study.

AIM: Investigating the risks of diabetes complications among inpatients with diabetes associated with longest-held and current occupations. METHOD: Using a Japanese nationwide, multicenter, hospital inpatient dataset (2005-2015), a matched case-control study with 39,550 inpatients with diabetes was conducted. We considered both the longest-held and current occupations of the study subjects. RESULT: Diabetes complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and peripheral vascular complications occur more often in managers, sales workers, service workers, transportation workers, construction and mining workers and carrying, cleaning and packing workers. Among these occupations, particularly the service workers indicated consistently significant increased risks (OR = 1.36 (1.23-1.51)) in developing all the considered subtypes of diabetes complications, and the performed sensitivity analysis confirmed this conclusion. Moreover, among service workers, cooks, waiters, building service staff and other service workers were identified as having the highest risks in developing diabetes complications (ORs = 1.30 (1.12-1.51), 1.63 (1.36-1.95), 1.79 (1.21-2.67), and 2.05 (1.30-3.22), respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our study's potential translational impact should lead to subsequent investigations on the causes connected to certain occupations of various diabetes complications and particularly to more carefully dealing with patients with diabetes who work in the identified occupational areas and their health risks.

Occupational physical activity differentially affects the risk for developing later-onset Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis among middle-aged and older populations.

BACKGROUND: A person's occupation may increase his/her risk for developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study investigated the association between risk for later-onset of IBD and both specific occupations and occupational physical activity (OPA) levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter hospital-based matched case-control study was conducted using the Inpatient Clinico-Occupational Survey database. Cases were patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients admitted for the first time between 2005 and 2015. Four controls matched by age, sex, admission year and hospital were selected for each case. Cases and controls were grouped into the longest-held occupations as classified by the Japanese Standard Occupational Classification and OPA levels. We conducted conditional logistic regressions to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for IBD, CD and UC adjusted for alcohol consumption and smoking status. RESULTS: There were 564 cases (172 CD, 392 UC) and 2086 controls. The risk for UC was higher among sales workers and carrying, cleaning and packing workers (ORs 2.62 [95%CIs 1.18-5.82], 2.52 [1.04-6.09]). There was no association between occupation type and CD risk. Higher OPA level decreased CD risk (OR 0.51 [95%CIs 0.26-1.00]) and increased UC risk (OR 1.53 [95%CIs 1.02-2.30]). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that the risk for later-onset of UC, but not CD, was associated with longest-held 'service' and 'manufacture' work. The risk by OPA levels was inversely associated between CD and UC. Further studies are needed by follow-up method for long-term effects of physical activity.

A case control study of occupation and cardiovascular disease risk in Japanese men and women.

We aimed to investigate the risks of cardiovascular diseases associated with specific occupations, using a nation-wide, multicentre, hospital-based registry data from the Inpatient Clinico-Occupational Survey. The analysis included 539,110 controls (non-circulatory disease) and 23,792 cases (cerebral infarction, intracerebral/subarachnoid hemorrhage, acute myocardial infarction) aged ≥ 20 years who were initially hospitalized during 2005-2015. The participants' occupational and clinical histories were collected by interviewers and medical doctors. Occupations were coded into 81 categories according to the Japanese standard occupation classification. Multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, admission year and hospital, smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, and shift-work was conducted by sex using general clerical workers as the reference. Increased risks of cerebral infarction, intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and acute myocardial infarction, were observed in 15, 20, 25, and 1 occupation(s) in men, and 9, 2, 2, and 10 occupations in women. Motor vehicle drivers, food and drink preparatory workers, fishery workers, cargo workers, civil engineer workers, and other manual workers in men and other manual workers in women faced increased risks of all three stroke subtypes. Our findings demonstrate associations between specific occupations and the risk of cardiovascular disease incidence and suggest that the risk may vary by occupation.

The relationship of hospital stay and readmission with employment status.

The Inpatient Clinico-Occupational Survey collected data from 3.76 million patients, showing that the average length of stay declined by 16.1 d in FY2008 and by 14.1 d in FY2015. In this study, we assessed the length of hospital stay and readmission, stratified by ICD-10 and employment status. A cross-sectional study was conducted on data from FY2008, including those from 65,806 first hospitalizations and 16,653 readmissions in FY2008, where 62,260 first admissions and 29,242 readmissions in FY 2015. The length of hospital stay was longest in those admitted due to external influences (24.8 d), followed by musculoskeletal disorders (22.5 d). This remained unchanged in FY2015, however, lengths of stay of those were reduced by 20.1 and 20.0 d, respectively. The length of hospital stay for most diseases was longer upon readmission than on first admission, and longer for those who were unemployed. It is necessary to give attention to patients who need to be discharged early due to work, or plan for frequent hospitalization in order to reduce the length of each hospital stay because of the expected increase in the number of elderly workers brought on by a declining birth rate and an aging population.

Combined effects of occupational exposure to hazardous operations and lifestyle-related factors on cancer incidence.

We aimed to examine whether the number of types of hazardous operations at work experienced through a lifetime is associated with cancer incidence, and additionally examined the combined effects with lifestyle-related factors. Using a nationwide, multicenter, hospital inpatient dataset (2005-2015), we conducted a matched case-control study with 1 149 296 study subjects. We classified the participants into those with none, 1, or 2 or more types of hazardous operation experience, based on information of special medical examinations taken, mandatory in Japan for workers engaged in hazardous operations. Using those with no experience as the reference group, we estimated the odds ratios for cancer incidence (all sites, lung, stomach, colon and rectum, liver, pancreas, bile duct, and bladder) by conditional logistic regression with multiple imputations. We also examined the effects of the combination with hazardous operations and lifestyle-related factors. We observed increased risks for cancer of all sites, and lung, pancreas, and bladder cancer associated with the experience of hazardous operations. Multivariable-adjusted ORs (95% CIs) of cancer incidence of all sites were 1 (reference), 1.16 (1.12, 1.21), and 1.17 (1.08, 1.27) for none, 1, and 2 or more types of hazardous operation experience, respectively (P for trend <.001). Potential combined associations of hazardous operations with smoking were observed for lung, pancreas, and bladder cancer, and with diabetes for pancreas cancer. Engaging in hazardous operations at work and in combination with lifestyle-related factors may increase the risk of cancer. We highlight the potential for those engaged in hazardous work to avoid preventable cancers.

Repetition of Prediabetes Enhances the Risk of Developing Diabetes.

We attempted to clarify the severity of the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the individuals who repeatedly fulfill the criteria for prediabetes in both fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The subjects were 2347 individuals who underwent annual health checkup at our hospital. They were classified as normal glucose tolerance or prediabetes as their yearly status of glucose tolerance for three years; furthermore, the individuals classified as prediabetes were subclassified into 3 groups. Among them, we focused the individuals who fulfilled the criteria for prediabetes in both FPG and HbA1c, and this group was named as PD3. Similarly, all subjects were categorized into 4 groups by the frequency of the status of PD3 during three years. Moreover, all subjects were categorized into 8 patterns when PD3 status was positive. Then, we surveyed the development of diabetes for 5 years, and the incidence rates (IRs) and the age- and sex-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were obtained. A total of 188 subjects developed diabetes. The individuals in the group of PD3 showed the highest IR of DM (33.6%). The values of ORs were 11.5, 20.0, and 63.5 when the frequencies of PD3 were one, two, and three, respectively. In the group whose frequency of PD3 was two, the individuals who had repeated the status of PD3 twice then moved to the status other than PD3 showed smaller risk of DM than the others in the same group. In conclusion, individuals who fulfill the criteria for prediabetes in both FPG and HbA1c were at a high risk of developing DM, and the risk was enhanced by repeating this status. On the other hand, changing the status from PD3 to others might reduce the risk of DM.

[A Case of Aphasia after Neck Clipping of a Ruptured Aneurysm at the Origin of the Duplicated Middle Cerebral Artery].

We report a case of aphasia after neck clipping of a ruptured aneurysm at the origin of the duplicated middle cerebral artery(DMCA). A 60-year-old woman had a sudden onset of headache and nausea. A computed tomography(CT)scan revealed diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage. Head three-dimensional CT angiography(3D-CTA)showed a left DMCA with a saccular aneurysm at the origin. She became aphasic on the third day after aneurysmal neck clipping. A CT scan revealed a low-density area in the anterior portion of the left temporal lobe, which is perfused by the DMCA. The DMCA was patent on 3D-CTA, but the angle between the ICA and the DMCA changed steep. It is suspected that the clip changed the branching angle at the DMCA origin, which may have led to decreased blood flow in the DMCA. She received linguistic rehabilitation for dysnomia and was discharged with slight difficulty in naming objects. Six months later, she recovered from the aphasia. One year later, the DMCA was patent on 3D-CTA. We should pay attention to ischemic complications in clipping because DMCAs are easily deformed.

Effects of a Public Education Campaign on the Association Between Knowledge of Early Stroke Symptoms and Intention to Call an Ambulance at Stroke Onset: The Acquisition of Stroke Knowledge (ASK) Study.

BACKGROUND: An immediate ambulance call offers the greatest opportunity for acute stroke therapy. Effectively using ambulance services requires strengthening the association between knowledge of early stroke symptoms and intention to call an ambulance at stroke onset, and encouraging the public to use ambulance services. METHODS: The present study utilized data from the Acquisition of Stroke Knowledge (ASK) study, which administered multiple-choice, mail-in surveys regarding awareness of early stroke symptoms and response to a stroke attack before and after a 2-year stroke education campaign in two areas subject to intensive and moderate intervention, as well as in a control area, in Japan. In these three areas, 3833 individuals (1680, 1088 and 1065 participants in intensive intervention, moderate intervention, and control areas, respectively), aged 40 to 74 years, who responded appropriately to each survey were included in the present study. RESULTS: After the intervention, the number of correctly identified symptoms significantly associated with intention to call an ambulance (P < 0.05) increased (eg, from 4 to 5 correctly identified symptoms), without increasing choice of decoy symptoms in the intensive intervention area. Meanwhile, in other areas, rate of identification of not only correct symptoms but also decoy symptoms associated with intention to call an ambulance increased. Furthermore, the association between improvement in the knowledge of stroke symptoms and intention to call an ambulance was observed only in the intensive intervention area (P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that intensive interventions are useful for strengthening the association between correct knowledge of early stroke symptoms and intention to call an ambulance, without strengthening the association between incorrect knowledge and intention to call an ambulance.

Effects of intensive and moderate public education on knowledge of early stroke symptoms among a Japanese population: the Acquisition of Stroke Knowledge study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To assess the effects of intensive and moderate public education on knowledge of early stroke symptoms among a general Japanese population. METHODS: Information on early stroke symptoms was distributed by leaflet 12× and by booklet twice in an intensive intervention area >22 months, and by leaflet and booklet once each in a moderate intervention area. No distribution occurred in the control area. Before and after the intervention, a mailed survey was conducted in the 3 areas. A total of 2734 individuals, aged 40 to 74 years, who did not select all 5 correct symptoms of stroke in the preintervention survey were eligible for our analysis. RESULTS: The numbers of correct answers selected about stroke symptoms did not differ significantly among the 3 areas in the preintervention survey (P=0.156). In the postintervention survey, the proportions of participants who selected sudden 1-sided numbness or weakness (94.2% in the intensive intervention area, 88.3% in the moderate intervention area, and 89.2% in the control area; P<0.001) and sudden severe headache (76.8%, 70.1%, and 70.4%, respectively; P<0.001) differed significantly among the 3 areas. After adjustment for confounding factors, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for correctly choosing all 5 symptoms were 1.35 (1.07-1.71) in the intensive intervention area and 0.96 (0.74-1.24) in the moderate intervention area compared with the control area. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that frequent distribution of leaflets and booklets significantly improved the short-term knowledge of community residents about early symptoms of stroke.

Public awareness of early symptoms of stroke and information sources about stroke among the general Japanese population: the Acquisition of Stroke Knowledge Study.

BACKGROUND: It is important that the general population be aware of the early symptoms, since it has been shown that early arrival to hospitals leads better prognosis of stroke patients. However, the general population is not well informed about the early symptoms of stroke. This study was conducted to clarify which stroke symptoms are less well known and which information sources are related to awareness of stroke symptoms. METHODS: A multiple-choice, mail-in survey involving 5,540 randomly selected residents, aged 40-74 years, of 3 cities in Japan was conducted. Their knowledge about stroke symptoms and their information sources were surveyed; information sources were classified as mass media (television/newspaper/radio) and personal communication sources (posters/leaflets/internet/health professionals/family and/or friends). 'Awareness' was defined as selecting all 5 of the correct stroke symptoms from among 10 listed symptoms with decoy choices. The estimated fraction of the possible impact due to each source on the whole population was also calculated by odds ratios (ORs) and the proportion of respondents who selected each source (Pe). The combined effects of mass media and personal communication sources on awareness were also assessed. RESULTS: Of the 5,540 residents, only 23% selected all 5 correct symptoms. Visual disturbance was the least known of the 5 symptoms (35%). All sources were positively related to awareness, with ORs (Pe) of: television, 1.58 (72.5%); newspaper, 1.79 (48.0%); radio, 1.74 (13.3%); posters, 1.73 (7.6%); leaflets, 1.50 (24.7%); Internet, 1.66 (5.6%); health professionals, 1.33 (34.8%), and family/friends, 1.21 (44.6%). The estimated fraction of the possible impact due to each source was higher for mass media (television, 0.31 and newspaper, 0.28) than personal communication sources (Internet, 0.04 and leaflets, 0.12). Mass media only and mass media/personal communication sources were significantly associated (ORs: 1.66, 2.75, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: As a single method of public education, television could be the most effective strategy. Moreover, the combined approach involving mass media and personal communication sources might have a synergistic effect. Less well-known symptoms, such as visual disturbances, should be noted in public education campaigns.

Effects of public education by television on knowledge of early stroke symptoms among a Japanese population aged 40 to 74 years: a controlled study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: An educational campaign by mass media has been associated with great increases in the knowledge about early symptoms of stroke. However, few studies were conducted with a controlled community intervention study. METHODS: To clarify the effects of a 1-year television campaign for the whole population on improvement of knowledge about stroke symptoms in 2 cities, a campaign area and a control area in Japan were selected. Before and after the campaign, 1960 randomly selected residents aged 40 to 74 years answered a telephone survey regarding knowledge of early stroke symptoms. We calculated the percentage and 95% CIs of participants who correctly chose all 5 early symptoms of stroke in each area and in each year. RESULTS: Before the campaign, 53% of participants (95% CI, 50%-55%) in the campaign area and 46% (95% CI, 44%-49%) in the control area correctly chose 5 early symptoms. After the 1-year television campaign, knowledge was significantly improved only in the campaign area (campaign area, 63%; 95% CI, 60%-66%; control area, 51%; 95% CI, 48%-54%). After sex stratification, only women showed improved knowledge of early symptoms. The audience rate for the campaign television programs was found to be higher in women than in men. CONCLUSIONS: A 1-year stroke educational television campaign effectively improved knowledge about early stroke symptoms among Japanese women aged 40 to 74 years. No impact was found among men in this age group. Future studies should examine the impact of this approach on stroke knowledge among younger individuals and whether there are any behavioral changes that contribute to earlier presentation for treatment.

[A case of dural arteriovenous fistula associated with subcortical and subdural hemorrhage].

We encountered a case of dural arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in which a cortical venous drainage was successfully treated by direct surgery. A 68-year-old man complained of headache and visual disturbance. CT on admission revealed intracerebral hematoma in the left occipital lobe and subdural hemorrhage in the left temporooccipital region. Angiography showed dural AVF in the left occipital region, which was type IV classified by Cognard and a varix of the draining vein. We performed direct surgery to remove the hematoma and obliteration of the draining vein was observed 10 days after onset. Intraoperative angiography via the middle meningeal artery which fed the dural AVF was very useful in the identification of the dural AVF and the varix and also to certify the obliteration of the fistula. Postoperative angiography showed disappearance of dural AVF. The patient had a good clinical course. Early direct surgery in this type of dural AVF is necessary in order to prevent another hemorrhage from the varix.

[Drinking/smoking habits and knowledge regarding heavy drinking/ smoking as a risk factor of stroke among Japanese general population].

OBJECTIVE: We examined the knowledge regarding heavy drinking and smoking as risk factors of stroke according to drinking/smoking habits among randomly selected Japanese general population. METHODS: The Japan Stroke Association and co-researchers have performed a large-scale educational intervention to improve knowledge concerning stroke from 2006 to 2008. Prior to above-mentioned intervention, we conducted mail-surveillance on knowledge about stroke in 11,306 randomly selected residents aged 40 to 74. We assessed the relationship between drinking/smoking habits and knowledge regarding heavy drinking and smoking as risk factors by using the chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, sex, area, employment, living situation, history of stroke and other stroke related diseases, history of liver disease, family history of stroke and drinking (non-drinker / ex-drinker / occasional drinker / habitual drinker) / smoking habits (non-smoker / ex-smoker / current smoker). RESULTS: Total 5,540 subjects (49.0%) participated in this study. Ex-smokers and current smokers had better knowledge regarding smoking as a risk factor of stroke than non-smokers (odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals: 1.89, 1.55-2.31, 1.76, 1.45-2.12, respectively). CONCLUSION: There was no difference between habitual drinkers and non-drinkers in their knowledge, whereas current smokers had greater knowledge regarding smoking than nonsmokers. Accordingly, it is suggested that it will be necessary for habitual drinkers to be enlightened regarding heavy drinking as a risk factor of stroke and for current smokers to be provided with information regarding not only these risks but also the specific strategies for invoking behavioral changes.

Impact of the approval of intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator therapy on the processes of acute stroke management in Japan: the Stroke Unit Multicenter Observational (SUMO) Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan approved the use of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke in October 2005. The impact of the regulatory approval of rt-PA on the processes of acute stroke management was examined. METHODS: A prospective, multicenter, observational study was conducted between December 2004 and December 2005 in 84 Japanese institutes, including 24 institutes with a stroke unit. We enrolled 4620 consecutive patients who were hospitalized within 72 hours after the onset of completed ischemic stroke; 1089 of them were hospitalized after rt-PA was approved. The patients' characteristics and the processes of stroke management were compared before and after rt-PA approval. RESULTS: Age, gender, stroke subtype, time from onset to hospital visit, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score on admission were similar between the 2 periods. With approval, the percentage of patients treated with intravenous rt-PA therapy increased from 0.7% to 2.6% (P<0.001). The rate increased from 0.9% to 5.2% in institutes with a stroke unit (P<0.001) but did not increase in other institutes (P=0.587). Within 24 hours of stroke onset, conventional MRI (P=0.003), diffusion-weighted MRI (P<0.001), magnetic resonance angiography (P=0.001), carotid ultrasound (P=0.004), measurement of prothrombin time or activated partial thromboplastin time (P=0.034), and measurement of blood sugar (P=0.015) were performed more frequently after rt-PA approval. CONCLUSIONS: The present results indicate that the approval of intravenous rt-PA therapy resulted in dramatic changes in the processes of management for acute stroke patients.

The effect of weekends and holidays on stroke outcome in acute stroke units.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In almost all acute stroke units in Japan, staffing level is lower on weekends and holidays and rehabilitative services are provided only on weekdays. We sought to investigate the effects of low-volume care early after stroke resulting from weekends and holidays on the outcome of stroke. METHODS: Patients with completed stroke within 72 h of onset were prospectively registered by 10 acute stroke units in Japan. Main outcome measures were favorable outcomes as indicated by a score of 0-1 on the modified Rankin scale (mRS01) on their 21st hospital day and at discharge and case fatality during the hospital stay. Cox proportional hazardsmodels were used to identify the effects of weekday admission and a weekday ratio (a number of weekdays / total length of hospital stay, or 21 days if hospitalization was longer than 21 days) on the main outcome measures. RESULTS: In a total of 1,134 patients, Cox proportional hazards regression analyses demonstrated that the weekday admission was significantly associated with mRS01 at discharge (hazard ratio, HR: 1.385, 95% CI: 1.087-1.764) and case fatality (HR: 0.477, 95% CI: 0.285-0.798). In 858 patients with rehabilitative therapy, the weekday ratio was significantly associated with mRS01 at discharge (p = 0.014). Compared with the lowest tertile of weekday ratio (<66.6%), the highest tertile (>71.4%) was significantly positively associated with mRS01 at discharge (HR: 1.524, 95% CI: 1.053-2.206; p < 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: Weekday admission was an independent negative predictor of case fatality and a positive predictor of favorable outcome (mRS01) at discharge from acute stroke units. In patients with rehabilitative therapy, a reduction in the weekday ratio was also associated with unfavorable outcome, probably due to a reduction in multidisciplinary care.