Background: Little information has been collected on the prevalence of hypertension in different rural parts of Japan, using similar methods for sample selection and based on similar diagnostic criteria, and epidemiological studies are urgently needed in each Japanese rural county to determine the baseline against which future trends in risk factor levels can be assessed in order to be able to plan appropriate preventive strategies. Objective: To study the prevalence and its relationship to risk factors of hypertension without controlled drug treatment in rural populations. Materials and Methods: Three cross-sectional surveys were conducted in the Akita (north), Gifu (middle) and Fukuoka (south) regions during 2004-2005 using study subjects (n=1778) aged 40-79 years who participated in a health check-up program. Blood pressure was measured by a trained nurse. Information concerning their history of hypertension and lifestyle was obtained by self-administered questionnaires. Results: When comparing the three regions, the prevalence of hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg) without controlled drug treatment demonstrated a significant difference among males (16.8%, 22.1% and 12.7% in Akita, Gifu and Fukuoka, respectively; p<0.05). However, no significant difference was seen among females (14.4%, 16.0% and 16.5% in Akita, Gifu and Fukuoka, respectively). According to a multivariate logistic regression analysis for these two groups in each of the three regions, the odds ratio (OR) showed that obesity (body mass index≥25 kg/m2) was strongly associated with the Hypertensive (-) group among females in two regions (ORs of 2.32 for both Akita and Fukuoka). Physical inactivity (average daily physical activity energy expenditure<300 kcal), alcohol drinking (alcohol intake≥44 g/day and/or frequency of drinking≥5 days/week), cigarette smoking (Brinkman index≥400) and a stressful lifestyle were not significantly associated with the Hypertensive (-) group among these rural populations. Conclusions: Therefore, hypertension in females in rural Japan may be controlled by a reduction in body weight.
Hypertension induced by pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Japanese language ; Prevalence aspects ; Three

Objective: To examine relationships between fast eating habit and overweight. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Four rural areas in Japan. Subjects: A total of 2,239 adults (782 men and 1,457 women) who participated in a health check-up program. Measurements: Body mass index (overweight 25.0) and the habit of eating quickly (validated brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire). Statistical analysis: A covariance analysis was used to examine an independent relationship between the habit of eating quickly and overweight. Results: 21.1% of males and 21.4% of females were found overweight. 40.3% of males and 34.7% of females reported that they were in the habit of eating quickly. The multivariable adjustment included age, total energy intake, fat energy balance, alcohol intake, smoking status, physical activity level, and survey area. After adjusting for these variables, the habit of eating quickly was positively related with overweight in both males and females.Conclusion: The habit of eating quickly was independently related with overweight, and to control of the eating behavior would thus be essential for Japanese rural residents in order to reduce their body weight.

There are no signs of a drop in the number of deaths in accidents while at farmwork, hovering around 400 a year. Furthermore, the fact remains that accurate data about those farm accidents are not fully grasped.This reality gave birth to a Special Study Team on the Prevention of Farmwork Accidents in the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine.To cast light on the actuality of farm work accidents, questionnaires on accidents caused by farm machinery and instruments were sent to three medical institutions affiliated with the Association from October 2002 to March 2004. As a result, clinical data were collected on 141 clinical cases. Moreover, studies were performed on five cases in which rescue squads were dispatched to give aid to the injured.The data thus collected on the clinical cases revealed that grass cutters, harvesters, riding and push-on-foot types of tractors, and straw cutters were responsible for many accidents. Some individuals were involved in the accidents as operators of grass cutters were unaware of their existence nearby because of noise from the machines, some dragged in by the harvesters or straw cutters, and some pinned under the tractors.Case studies on death-induced accidents suggested the indispensability of fitting a safety frame and a seat belt to the tractor and installing a cabin on the speed sprayer.For the prevention of accidents by farm machinery, it is important to hold lecture meetings more frequently both on the basic method of their use and on first aid.
Prevention ; Clinical ; Accidents ; Industrial machine, NOS ; Research