Daisuke Narumi

Fatigue and sleep under large summer temperature differences

BACKGROUND It has been recognized that an increase in outdoor ambient temperatures has a negative impact on health, particularly fatigue and sleep quality; however, the relationship among fatigue, sleep quality, and air temperature has yet to be sufficiently elucidated. OBJECTIVES To examine whether fatigue and sleep quality in a healthy Japanese population were affected by rising air temperature at three time points in summer and to investigate the confounding factors for fatigue. METHODS A total of 602 healthy volunteers in Osaka, Japan, participated in a survey that was conducted at the end of July, August, and September in 2010. The questionnaire consisted of four sections; demographic variables, accommodation status, fatigue, and sleep quality. We used the Chalder fatigue scale for assessment of fatigue, and the Japanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for assessment of sleep quality. RESULTS The fatigue score was positively correlated with the sleep quality score in the total cohort. All the questionnaires at the three time points were completed by 162 participants. There were significant differences in fatigue scores among the surveys. We stratified the subjects into two groups of good and poor sleepers using a cutoff value of the PSQI. The good sleepers did not show differences in fatigue score regardless of the change in air temperature. However, the fatigue score of poor sleepers was greater at higher air temperatures. The use of air conditioners, accommodation type, and subjects age were confounding factors for fatigue. CONCLUSIONS High air temperatures in summer increased fatigue in healthy volunteers, especially those with poor sleep patterns, depending on the use of air conditioners, accommodation status, and subjects age.

Japanese sleep disturbance and fatigue disability weights in evaluating the effects of increasing temperatures on health by a life cycle approach

PurposeThis study aimed to establish a set of disability weights (DWs) for sleep problems and fatigue which could be applied in composite health outcome measures in order to quantify the burden of symptoms and economically evaluate the effects of increasing temperatures on a life cycle approach.MethodsThe conditions were evaluated by a two-step questionnaire study. In the first step, specialists determined the DW for each condition. The second step was identical to the first, except that the determinations were made by primary care physicians. Both groups of medical practitioners used an interpolation method consisting of a comprehensive set of 31 disease-specific DWs.Results and discussionMean DWs for sleep disturbance were 0.101 for environmental sleep disturbance, 0.069 for mild sleep disturbance, and 0.086 for moderate sleep disturbance. Mean DWs for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) were 0.099 for a diagnosis of CFS, 0.164 for mild handicap, 0.281 for moderate handicap, and 0.459 for severe handicap. Mean DWs assigned by primary care physicians for sleep disturbance were 0.114 for environmental sleep disturbance, 0.140 for mild sleep disturbance, and 0.126 for severe sleep disturbance. Those for CFS were 0.154 for a diagnosis, 0.099 for mild handicap, 0.147 for moderate handicap, and 0.226 for severe handicap.ConclusionsUsing the present valuation protocol, it appeared feasible to establish the burden of symptoms as attributable to increasing temperatures. The results can be applied in composite health outcome measures for public health research, environmental research, and economic evaluations.

RESEARCH ON THE MEASURES TO PROMOTE INTRODUCTION OF ROOFTOP TYPE PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER GENERATION SYSTEM CONSIDERING ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY

鳴海大典ー ーーーー * 1 金 栄暁ー ーーーー* 2 キーワード: 太陽光発電,建物屋上,設置可能面積,経済効率性