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. 2018 Nov 5;28(11):444-451.
doi: 10.2188/jea.JE20180150. Epub 2018 Oct 6.

Japanese Legacy Cohort Studies: The Hisayama Study

Toshiharu Ninomiya  1
Affiliations

Japanese Legacy Cohort Studies: The Hisayama Study

Toshiharu Ninomiya. J Epidemiol. .

Abstract

The Hisayama Study is a population-based prospective cohort study designed to evaluate the risk factors for lifestyle-related diseases, such as stroke, coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and dementia, in a general Japanese population. The prospective follow-up surveys have been conducted in subjects aged 40 or older since 1961. Notable characteristics of this study include its high participation rate (70-80% of all residents aged 40 or older), high follow-up rate (99% or over), and high autopsy rate (approximately 75% of deceased cases). The Hisayama Study has provided valuable evidence of secular change in the prevalence and incidence of several lifestyle-related disease and their risk factors. The study has thereby contributed to elucidation of the preventive strategies for lifestyle-related disease. Research efforts in this cohort are ongoing and will provide additional data for the improvement of human health and longevity.

Keywords: cardiovascular disease; cohort study; dementia; diabetes; epidemiology.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. The town of Hisayama
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. The characteristics of the Hisayama Study
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Secular trends in the incidence of stroke and coronary heart disease in the town of Hisayama. Data from 5 Hisayama cohorts of patients aged ≥40 years, with 7-year follow-up and age-adjustment (cited from reference 11)
Figure 4.
Figure 4.. Trends in the proportion of brain infarction subtypes in the town of Hisayama. Data from 3 Hisayama cohorts of patients aged ≥40 years, with 13-year follow-up (modified by reference 19)
Figure 5.
Figure 5.. Secular trends in the prevalence of glucose intolerance diagnosed by oral glucose tolerance test. Data are shown for Hisayama residents in 1988 (n = 2,490) and 2002 (n = 2,852), aged 40–79 years, with age-adjustment (cited from reference 27)
Figure 6.
Figure 6.. Trend in the prevalence of total dementia and its subtypes in the town of Hisayama. Data are shown for Hisayama residents aged ≥65 years, without adjustment (cited from reference 33)
Figure 7.
Figure 7.. Association between diabetes mellitus and hippocampal atrophy. The values were adjusted for age, sex, education level, hypertension, serum total cholesterol, body mass index, smoking habits, alcohol intakes, regular exercise and cerebrovascular disease (cited from reference 37)
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