Fine Particulate Matter and Diabetes Prevalence in Okayama, Japan.

Many studies have shown an association between long-term exposure to particulate matter having an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) and diabetes mellitus (DM), but few studies have focused on Asian subjects.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mortality among patients with colorectal cancer in Hiroshima, Japan: A large cancer registry study.

Background: This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on colorectal cancer care and mortality using a large cancer registry in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The study aimed to estimate the all-cause mortality rates within 1 year of diagnosis among colorectal cancer patients diagnosed during the pandemic period (2020 and 2021) compared to those diagnosed during the pre-pandemic period (2018 and 2019).

Methods: The day of diagnosis was set as Day 0 and Cox regression models were utilized to estimate crude hazard ratios (HRs) and adjusted HRs, accounting for age, sex, cancer stage, and treatment status.

Increased care-need in older long-term care insurance users after the 2018 Japan Floods: a retrospective cohort study based on the Japanese long-term care insurance claims.

Background: Level of care-need (LOC) is an indicator of elderly person's disability level and is officially used to determine the care services provided in Japan's long-term care insurance (LTCI) system. The 2018 Japan Floods, which struck western Japan in July 2018, were the country's second largest water disaster. This study determined the extent to which the disaster affected the LOC of victims and compared it with that of non-victims.

Heat Exposure Following the Rainy Season Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Emergency Among the Elderly in Japan.

Background Despite the impact of heat exposure caused by global warming, few studies have investigated the hourly effects of heat exposure and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the elderly. We examined the associations between short-term heat exposure and the risk of CVD in the elderly in Japan and evaluated possible effect-measure modifications by rainy seasons that occur in East Asia. Methods and Results We conducted a time-stratified case-crossover study.

How the 2018 Japan Floods Impacted Nursing Home Admissions for Older Persons: A Longitudinal Study Using the Long-Term Care Insurance Comprehensive Database.

Objectives: As disasters become more frequent because of global warming, countries across the world are seeking ways to protect vulnerable older populations. Although these conditions may increase nursing home admission (NHA) rates for older persons, we know of no studies that have directly tested this hypothesis.

Design: This was a retrospective cohort study.

Geographic distribution of family physicians in Japan and the USA: a cross-sectional comparative study.

Introduction: Solutions for geographic maldistribution of physicians is challenging around the world, but primary care specialists are expected to resolve this issue. This study compares the geographic distribution of family physicians in Japan and the USA, both of which are developed countries without a major system for physician allocation by the public sector; however, the two countries differ greatly in the maturity of family medicine (ie length of its history as part of the healthcare system and the population of qualified family medicine experts).

Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study used publicly available online databases for Japan in 2018 and 2017 in the USA.

Increased prescriptions for irritable bowel syndrome after the 2018 Japan Floods: a longitudinal analysis based on the Japanese National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups.

Background: The frequency and intensity of natural disasters are increasing worldwide, which makes our understanding of disaster-related diseases more important than ever. Natural disasters cause mental stress and infectious diarrhea, but the causal relationship between disasters and a potential consequence of these conditions, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), is unreported. The 2018 Japan Floods, which took place in July 2018 was one of the largest water disasters in Japan's recorded history.

Impact of the 2018 Japan Floods on benzodiazepine use: a longitudinal analysis based on the National Database of Health Insurance Claims.

Purpose: Natural disaster has an impact on mental health. The 2018 Japan Floods, which took place in July 2018 were one of the largest water disasters in Japan's recorded history. We aimed to evaluate the change in the number of benzodiazepine prescriptions by physicians before and after the disaster.

Impact of the 2018 Japan Floods on prescriptions for migraine: A longitudinal analysis using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims.

Objective: To determine the impact of the 2018 Japan Floods, one of the largest water disasters in Japan, on the number of prescriptions for triptans and ergotamine (acute treatment).

Background: Natural disasters frequently occur worldwide and may cause psychological stress-related diseases. Acute migraine attacks can be triggered by psychological stress.

Long-term exposure to fine particle matter and all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality in Japan: the JPHC Study.

Background: Many epidemiological studies have reported the association between exposure to particulate matter and mortality, but long-term prospective studies from Asian populations are sparse. Furthermore, associations at low levels of air pollution are not well clarified. Here, we evaluated associations between long-term exposure to particulate matter <2.

Discontinuation of long-term care among persons affected by the 2018 Japan Floods: a longitudinal study using the Long-term Care Insurance Comprehensive Database.

Background: Most older people with disabilities or illnesses continue to use long-term care (LTC) services for the rest of their lives. However, disasters can cause a discontinuation of LTC services, which usually means tragic outcomes of affected persons. In view of the recent progression of population aging and the increase in natural disasters, this study focuses on the impact of disasters on older people's discontinuation of LTC services, and those more risk of such discontinuation than others.

Effects of the 2018 Japan Floods on long-term care insurance costs in Japan: retrospective cohort study.

Background: Climate change has increased the frequency and severity of torrential rains and floods around the world. Estimating the costs of these disasters is one of the five global research priorities identified by WHO. The 2018 Japan Floods hit western Japan causing extensive destruction and many deaths, especially among vulnerable elderly.

The 2018 Japan Floods Increased the Frequency of Prescriptions Among Elderly: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: The impact of the 2018 Japan Floods on prescriptions of was evaluated.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study based on the National Database of Health Insurance Claims which covers all the prescriptions issued in Japan. Participants were patients aged 65 or older who received any medical care at medical institutions located in the three most-severely affected prefectures between 1 year before and after the disaster.

The 2018 Japan Floods Increased Prescriptions of Antidementia Drugs Among Disaster Victims.

Objectives: Natural disasters can impair the cognitive function of older victims. However, it is unknown whether such natural disasters affect drug treatment for dementia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the 2018 Japan Floods, the second largest water-related disaster in Japan, on the prescriptions of antidementia drugs (ADD) for older people (≥65 years of age).

The effect of the 2018 Japan Floods on cognitive decline among long-term care insurance users in Japan: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The July 2018 Japan Floods caused enormous damage to western Japan. Such disasters can especially impact elderly persons. Research has shown that natural disasters exacerbated a decline in cognitive function, but to date, there have been no studies examining the effects of this disaster on the elderly.

Effects of transport-related COVID-19 policy measures: A case study of six developed countries.

This study attempts to provide scientifically-sound evidence for designing more effective COVID-19 policies in the transport and public health sectors by comparing 418 policy measures (244 are transport measures) taken in different months of 2020 in Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the UK, and the US. The effectiveness of each policy is measured using nine indicators of infections and mobilities corresponding to three periods (i.e.

Effects of dairy intake on anthropometric failure in children ages 6 to 23 mo consuming vegetarian diets and fulfilling minimum dietary diversity in India.

Objectives: In India, although nutritional conditions have improved, a high prevalence of anthropometric failure is still reported in children. Unfortunately, there are knowledge gaps surrounding nutrient and anthropometric shortcomings as well as dietary patterns. More than half of children are consuming a vegetarian diet.

Education policies to increase rural physicians in Japan: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: Japan has established comprehensive education-scholarship programs to supply physicians in rural areas. Their entrants now comprise 16% of all medical students, and graduates must work in rural areas for a designated number of years. These programs are now being adopted outside Japan, but their medium-term outcomes and inter-program differences are unknown.

Low creatinine levels in diabetes mellitus among older individuals: the Yuport Medical Checkup Center Study.

0000-0002-3401-8191. It is unknown whether the interrelationship between diabetes and muscle loss is affected by ageing. Therefore, the serum creatinine levels, an indicator of muscle mass, were compared between older people with diabetes and those without diabetes, using a cross-sectional dataset from the Yuport Medical Checkup Center Study.

Association of the past epidemic of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with mortality and incidence of COVID-19.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has created a remarkable and varying impact in every country, inciting calls for broad attention. Recently, the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination has been regarded as a potential candidate to explain this difference. Herein, we hypothesised that the past epidemic of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.

Temporal trends in voluntary behavioural changes during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak in Japan.

Objectives: This study evaluated the characteristics of individuals with voluntary behavioural changes (cancellation and postponement of bookings) during the early stages of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Japan. In addition, the temporal trends of these changes were captured.

Study Design: A cross-sectional analysis and a time series analysis were conducted.

Impact of the interferon-γ release assay and glomerular filtration rate on the estimation of active tuberculosis risk before bronchoscopic examinations: a retrospective pilot study.

Background: Bronchoscopic examinations are vital to diagnose pulmonary diseases. However, as coughing is triggered during and after the procedure, it is imperative to take measures against nosocomial infections, especially for airborne infections like tuberculosis (TB). The interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) has recently been established as a method to evaluate the infection status of TB.

Predictive variables for hemodialysis and death in Japanese spotted fever, and the association between distance from rivers and incidence.

The number of patients with Japanese spotted fever (JSF) and its case fatality rate have been increasing in Japan and other East Asian countries. Better clinical and laboratory biomarkers are needed to avoid misdiagnosing JSF and to predict severe cases. In addition to determining these predictors, we aimed to examine the association between the incidence of JSF and the distance from rivers, in Hiroshima Prefecture, one of the most JSF prevalent areas in Japan.