Japan Epidemiology Collaboration Research Articles

Prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes among workers: Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study

AimsFew studies have examined the prevalence of diabetes using glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), a newly recommended diagnostic test. We examined the prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes using both HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and their associations with risk factors for type 2 diabetes in a large-scale Japanese working population. MethodsParticipants were 47,172 men and 8280 women aged 20–69 years who received periodic health checkup in nine companies which participated in the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health study. Participants were categorized into diabetes (HbA1c≥6.5% (≥48mmol/mol), FPG≥126mg/dl (≥7.0mmol/L), or medication for diabetes), pre-diabetes (HbA1c 6.0–6.4% (42–46mmol/mol) or FPG 110–125mg/dl (6.1–6.9mmol/L) among those without diabetes), and normal glucose regulation. ResultsThe prevalence of diabetes was 8.0% and 3.3% in men and women, respectively. Of individuals with diabetes, approximately 80% were defined by HbA1c≥6.5% (≥48mmol/mol) criterion. The prevalence of pre-diabetes was 14.1% in men and 9.2% in women. Prevalence of these glucose abnormalities increased with advancing age, especially during mid-40s and 50s. Higher body mass index and waist circumference, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and current smoking were each associated with higher prevalence of diabetes in both men and women. ConclusionsUsing HbA1c and FPG criteria or current medication, one in 13 men and one in 30 women had diabetes in the present Japanese working population. Interventions targeted for those in an early stage of impaired glucose metabolism would be required to prevent diabetes.

Overtime work and prevalence of diabetes in Japanese employees: Japan epidemiology collaboration on occupational health study.

ObjectiveEpidemiologic evidence on long working hour and diabetes has been conflicting. We examined the association between overtime work and prevalence of diabetes among Japanese workers.MethodsThe subjects were 40,861 employees (35,170 men and 5,691 women), aged 16 to 83 years, of 4 companies in Japan. Hours of overtime were assessed using self-reported questionnaires. Diabetes was defined as a fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dl (7.0 mmol/l), hemoglobin A1c ≥6.5% (48 mmol/mol), or current use of anti-diabetic drug. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratio of diabetes for each category of overtime.ResultsAfter adjustment for age, sex, company, smoking, and BMI, there was a suggestion of U-shaped relationship between overtime work and prevalence of diabetes (P for quadratic trend = 0.07). Compared with those who worked <45 hours of overtime per month, the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of diabetes were 0.86 (0.77–0.94), 0.69 (0.53–0.89), and 1.03 (0.72–1.46) for those who worked 45–79, 80–99, and ≥100 hours of overtime per month, respectively. In one company (n = 33,807), where other potential confounders including shift work, job position, type of department, alcohol consumption, sleep duration, leisure time physical activity, and family history of diabetes was additionally adjusted for, similar result was obtained (P for quadratic trend = 0.05).ConclusionsLong hours of overtime work may not be associated with increased prevalence of diabetes among Japanese workers.

Proceedings: Q fever.

<h3>Introduction</h3> To establish effective supporting system for workers returning from sick leave due to cancer is an emerging global issue. Better understanding of their physical conditions would provide important information to address this issue. However, even simple information, for example, weight reduction by cancer type, is scarce in occupational settings. Here, we report body mass index (BMI) trajectories before and after long-term sick leave due to cancer among workers in Japan. <h3>Methods</h3> This is a cohort study among workers in Japan who took sick leave (consecutive 30 days or more) due to cancer between April 2012 and March 2013 and returned to work until March 2014 using data from Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study. Follow-up was conducted using annual health examination data until March 2016. Longitudinal data on BMI was extracted from the annual health examination database. BMI trend change before and after sick leave and effect modification by cancer type on the change was estimated using multivariable mixed models. <h3>Results</h3> Over 90 000 workers belonged to the participating companies in 2012. One-hundred one workers newly took sick leave due to cancer in 2012. Data on BMI at least two time-points before and after sick leave each were available in 49 workers. Overall, weight reduction occurred after returning from sick leave from cancer (p&lt;0.001). The tendency of weight reduction after returning from sick leave was significantly different by cancer type (p&lt;0.001). Greater weight reduction was observed in esophageal and stomach cancer (n=10). <h3>Discussion</h3> We found heterogeneity in weight reduction by cancer type after returning from sick leave due to cancer. The data suggest that occupational health professionals should pay more attention in weight reduction for workers who returned from long-term sick leave due to esophageal and stomach cancer.