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This study aimed to clarify the cause‐effect relationship between renal tubular damage and non‐cancer mortality in the general Japanese population. We conducted a 19‐year cohort study including 1110 men and 1,03 women who lived in three cadmium‐non‐polluted areas in 1993 or 1994. Mortality risk ratios based on urinary β2‐microglobulin (β2MG) and N‐acetyl‐β‐glucosaminidase (NAG) concentrations were estimated for specific non‐cancer diseases using the Fine and Gray competing risks regression model. In men, continuous urinary NAG (+1 μg/g cre) concentrations were significantly correlated with increased mortality caused by diseases of the respiratory system (hazard ratio (HR): 1.09, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–1.15). Urinary β2MG (+100 μg/g cre) concentrations were significantly correlated with increased mortalities caused by kidney and urinary tract diseases (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.03), renal diseases (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.03), renal failure (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00–1.03), and external causes of mortality (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.02). In women, urinary NAG (+1 μg/g cre) concentrations were significantly associated with increased mortality caused by ischemic heart diseases (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00–1.04) and kidney and urinary tract diseases (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.04). Urinary β2MG (+100 μg/g cre) concentrations were significantly correlated with increased mortality caused by cardiovascular diseases (HR: 1.01, 95%CI: 1.00–1.02), ischemic heart diseases (HR: 1.01, 95%CI: 1.00–1.02), and kidney and urinary tract diseases (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01–1.03). The present study indicates that renal tubular damage was significantly related to several non‐cancer disease causes of mortality in Japan's general population living in cadmium‐non‐polluted areas. We evaluated the effect of renal tubular damage on non‐cancer mortality, by conducting a 19‐year cohort study in three cadmium‐non‐polluted areas in Japan. Mortality risk estimates based on urinary NAG and β2MG concentrations were significantly higher for respiratory, renal, and cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/Introduction: This cohort study assessed the risk for bodyweight gain and development of glucose intolerance based on the frequency of consumption of balanced meals including grain, fish or meat and vegetables. Materials and Methods: The participants (8,573 men, 3,327 women) were employees of a company in Japan. A self‐administered questionnaire was used to evaluate the frequency of balanced meal consumption. Bodyweight changes and the incidence of glucose intolerance (glycated hemoglobin >6.0%) during the 3‐year follow‐up period were determined through annual health examinations. Results: The mean bodyweight change over a period of 3 years was 0.78 kg for men and 0.84 kg for women. A lower frequency of balanced meals was associated with a higher bodyweight gain for men (P for trend = 0.004), but not for women. During the study, 464 men and 115 women developed glucose intolerance. Overall, the frequency of balanced meals was not associated with the risk of glucose intolerance in either sex. However, the interaction between the frequency of balanced meals and degree of obesity had a significant effect on the incidence of glucose intolerance in men (P = 0.005), with less frequent consumption of balanced meals being associated with a higher risk for glucose intolerance among men with a BMI ≥25.0 kg/m2 (P for trend = 0.007). Conclusions: A higher frequency of balanced meals, including grain, fish or meat and vegetable dishes – important components of healthy Japanese food – was associated with a lower risk of glucose intolerance in obese men, but not in non‐obese men and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of environmental cadmium exposure according to urinary cadmium concentration (U‐Cd) on noncancer mortality in a general Japanese population. We conducted a longitudinal study for 19 years in 2804 inhabitants (1107 men and 1697 women) in some cadmium nonpolluted regions in Japan. The participants were classified into quartiles based on U‐Cd (μg/g cre) adjusted for urinary creatinine. Hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for continuous U‐Cd or the quartiles of U‐Cd were calculated for noncancer mortality. By applying a Fine and Gray competing risk model, continuous U‐Cd (+1 μg/g cre) showed significant HR for cardiocerebrovascular diseases (HR 1.05, 95% CI: 1.00–1.11), cerebrovascular diseases (HR 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01–1.16), and cerebral infarction (HR 1.11, 95% CI: 1.04–1.20) in men. However, notable significant HR for continuous and quartered U‐Cd were not observed in women. In this study, U‐Cd was associated with increased cardiocerebrovascular mortality in a general Japanese population, suggesting that environmental cadmium exposure is detrimental to the life prognosis in cadmium nonpolluted regions in Japan. We conducted a longitudinal study for 19 years in 1107 men and 1697 women who lived in three cadmium nonpolluted regions in Japan, to evaluate the effect of cadmium exposure on noncancer mortality in a general Japanese population. Mortality risk ratios for urinary cadmium were estimated using a Fine and Gray competing risks model. Urinary cadmium was significantly associated with increased cardiocerebrovascular mortality in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between urinary β2‐microglobulin (β2‐MG) and the risk of all‐cause mortality and cause‐specific mortality in a cadmium (Cd)‐polluted area was investigated in 3139 inhabitants (1404 men and 1735 women) of the Kakehashi River basin in Japan at 35‐year follow‐up. The subjects had been participants in the 1981–1982 health impact survey that assessed Cd‐induced renal dysfunction, as measured by the urinary β2‐MG concentration. Hazard ratios were calculated to assess the risk of all‐cause and cause‐specific mortality according to the urinary β2‐MG concentrations. Risk ratios (RRs) were assessed using the Fine and Gray regression model to account for competing risks of cause‐specific mortality. The mortality rate was significantly higher in participants with urinary β2‐MG concentrations >1000 μg/g creatinine (Cr) for men and >300 μg/g Cr for women. In the proportional hazard model, higher urinary β2‐MG concentrations were associated with higher risks of circulatory disease, digestive system diseases, and kidney and urinary tract diseases in men and women, and with senility for women. However, when competing risk was accounted for, the RRs were significantly higher only for kidney and urinary tract diseases in men and women (RR for each increment of 1000 μg/g Cr [95% confidence interval]: 1.02 [1.00–1.04] for men, and 1.01 [1.00–1.02] for women). The long‐term prognosis of participants with renal tubular dysfunction was poor, most likely due to kidney and renal tract diseases. We assessed long‐term mortality in the inhabitants of a cadmium polluted area in Japan. The mortality rate was higher in participants with higher urinary β2‐microglobulin concentrations. For cause‐specific mortality, higher urinary β2‐microglobulin levels were associated with a higher risk of death from renal disease. Cancer and cardiovascular disease mortality were not associated with renal damage when competing risk was accounted for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The increasing number of working elderly people has enhanced the importance of workplace health promotion activities. We investigated the association between the health status of workers approximately 60 years of age and the risk of all‐cause mortality after compulsory retirement in Japan. Methods: The 2026 participants (1299 males and 727 females) had retired from a metal‐products factory at ≥60 years of age. Baseline health examinations were conducted at 60 years of age and included questions about medical history and lifestyle factors; the participants also underwent a physical examination. The participants were followed up annually by mail for an average of 7.4 years. The association between health status at age 60 years and the risk of all‐cause mortality was assessed by Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Results: During the study, 71 deaths were reported. The age‐ and sex‐adjusted hazard ratio (HR [95% confidence interval]) for all‐cause mortality was higher for males (HR, 3.41 [1.73‐6.69]) compared with females, participants with a low body mass index (<18.5 kg/m2; HR 3.84 [1.91‐7.73]) compared with normal body weight, smokers (HR, 2.63 [1.51‐4.58]) compared with nonsmokers, and those with three or more of four metabolic abnormalities (obesity, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and glucose intolerance) (HR 2.29 [1.04‐5.02]) compared with no metabolic abnormalities. The associations were unaffected by adjustment for these factors. Conclusion: Maintenance of an appropriate body weight, smoking cessation, and elimination of metabolic syndrome are required for older workers to prevent early death after retirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]