Yukako Tatsumi

Hypertension with diabetes mellitus: significance from an epidemiological perspective for Japanese

The prevalence of both hypertension and diabetes mellitus is increasing worldwide. Both diseases lead to severe complications such as cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases, which increase the risk of death over a long period of time. Therefore, the prevention and aggravation of hypertension and diabetes mellitus are major challenges. Because few review articles have focused on the epidemiological perspective of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, we reviewed major observational studies mainly from Japan and from Western countries that have reported on the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, the binominal risk of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and the risk of their coexistence. Our investigation found that approximately 50% of diabetic patients had hypertension, and approximately 20% of hypertensive patients had diabetes mellitus. Those with either hypertension or diabetes mellitus had a 1.5- to 2.0-fold higher risk of having both conditions. These results were similar for both Japan and Western countries. Although comparing the results between Japan and Western countries was difficult because the risks were estimated using widely varying statistical analyses, it was revealed that the coexistence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus certainly increased the risk of complications regardless of the country. The definition, prevalence and medical treatment of hypertension and diabetes mellitus will change in the future. For early intervention based on the latest evidence to prevent severe complications, it is important to accumulate epidemiological knowledge of hypertension and diabetes mellitus and to update the evidence for both Japan and other countries.

Association between symptoms of bilateral numbness and/or paresthesia in the feet and postural instability in Japanese patients with diabetes

AbstractAimnThis study assessed the association between symptoms of bilateral numbness and/or paresthesia in the feet and postural instability in Japanese patients with diabetes.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 303 patients with diabetes, aged 40–88xa0years, who were referred to an outpatient diabetic clinic between January and July 2013 at Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital. A posturography test was used to evaluate postural sway in patients. Indices of postural sway were the total length and the enveloped area. Analysis of covariance was used to estimate the multivariable-adjusted means of indices of postural sway according to the presence or absence of symptoms of bilateral numbness and/or paresthesia in the feet.nResultsOf 303 patients, 35 (11.6xa0%) had symptoms of bilateral numbness and/or paresthesia in the feet. After adjustment for age, sex, diabetic retinopathy, regular exercise, body mass index, hemoglobin A1c level, and quadriceps’ strength, patients with symptoms had higher levels of postural sway length and an enveloped area in the posturography test than those without symptoms. In addition, we observed similar results when we analyzed 234 patients aged ≥60xa0years.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that patients who had symptoms of bilateral numbness and/or paresthesia in the feet may have more postural instability than those without symptoms.

Association between alcohol consumption and incidence of impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance in Japanese: The Saku study

AIMSnTo investigate the effect of alcohol consumption on impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance in Japanese.nnnMETHODSnThe participants in this 5-year cohort study were 2100 Japanese aged 30-74u202fyears without type 2 diabetes mellitus, impaired insulin secretion, or insulin resistance who underwent a medical checkup including 75-g OGTT between April 2008 and March 2009 at Saku Central Hospital. Alcohol consumption was categorized as follows: non-drinker (0u202fg/week), light drinker (1-139u202fg/week in men and 1-69u202fg/week in women), moderate drinker (140-274u202fg/week in men and 70-139u202fg/week in women) and heavy drinker (≥275u202fg/week in men and ≥140u202fg/week in women). The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs among light to heavy drinkers for incidence of impaired insulin secretion (insulinogenic index ≤51.7) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IRu202f≥u202f2.5), detected by an OGTT at the time of a follow-up medical checkup before the end of March 2014, were estimated by multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazard models as reference values for non-drinkers.nnnRESULTSnThere were 708 cases of impaired insulin secretion and 191 cases of insulin resistance. The HRs (95% CIs) for impaired insulin secretion in light, moderate and heavy drinkers were 1.16 (0.96-1.40), 1.35 (1.07-1.70) and 1.64 (1.24-2.16), respectively (P for trend <0.001). For insulin resistance, the HRs were 1.22 (0.84-1.76), 1.42 (0.91-2.22) and 1.59 (0.96-2.65), respectively (P for trendu202f=u202f0.044).nnnCONCLUSIONnAlcohol consumption was positively associated with the incidence of both impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance.

Risk for metabolic diseases in normal weight individuals with visceral fat accumulation: a cross-sectional study in Japan

Objective To investigate the association between visceral fat area (VFA) and metabolic syndrome (Mets) among normal weight Japanese. Design A cross-sectional study. Setting The health check-up centre of the Takeda Hospital group in Kyoto, Japan. Methods This study involved 1674 men and 1448 women aged 30–74u2005years who underwent medical check-ups in 2012 in the health check-up centre. They were stratified by Body Mass Index (BMI cut-off for obesity is set at 23.0u2005kg/m2 for Asians): normal weight 18.5–22.9u2005kg/m2 or higher weight ≥23.0u2005kg/m2. The age-adjusted ORs of the 2nd to 4th groups of sex-specific VFA quartiles compared with the 1st quartile for a Mets component clustering were estimated. The clustering was having two or more of the following factors: high blood pressure, high fasting blood glucose (FBG), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and high triglycerides. Statistical analyses were conducted in 2016. Results Participants in the 2nd to 4th VFA quartiles had significantly higher clustering risks; ORs were 3.4 (1.5 to 8.0), 6.3 (2.8 to 14.2) and 9.3 (4.2 to 20.7) for normal weight participants, and 1.7 (1.2 to 2.6), 2.6 (1.8 to 3.9) and 6.0 (4.1 to 8.8) for higher weight participants, respectively. The ORs of the 4th VFA quartile for Mets components were significantly higher; ORs for normal weight participants were 2.1 (1.5 to 3.0) (high blood pressure), 2.4 (1.4 to 4.2) (high FBG), 5.2 (2.1 to 12.9) (low HDL-C) and 12.0 (5.7 to 25.3) (high triglycerides), and higher weight participants were 3.9 (2.8 to 5.5), 4.1 (2.8 to 6.2), 3.9 (2.2 to 6.9) and 5.0 (3.4 to 7.4), respectively. Conclusions Among participants with normal weight, as well as those of higher weight, dose-dependent responses were observed between VFA and risk for Mets components and the clustering among Japanese adults. VFA may be useful information for interventions to improve metabolic risk factors in people with normal weight.

Relationship between outpatient visit frequency and hypertension control: A 9-year occupational cohort study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the frequency of outpatient visits and hypertension control as determined from health insurance records. This 9-year cohort study in Japan was based on 518 participants with hypertension who underwent health checkups in 2004. Participants were aged 35–56 years and none had a history of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease. All were covered by the same employee health insurer. Mean annual outpatient visit days at a hospital/clinic during the 9-year period were classified within four quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4). Uncontrolled hypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure (BP) ⩾140u2009mmu2009Hg and a diastolic BP ⩾90u2009mmu2009Hg. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension in groups Q1, Q2 and Q3 vs. Q4. The median (25th–75th percentile) annual outpatient visit days was 9.4 (4.0–15.5). Uncontrolled hypertension was observed in 62.4% of the participants in 2013. The multivariable-adjusted ORs and 95% CIs for uncontrolled hypertension in Q1, Q2 and Q3 vs. Q4 were 4.03 (2.28–7.12), 1.67 (0.99–2.81) and 1.44 (0.86–2.41), respectively. Uncontrolled hypertension increased significantly as the number of outpatient visits decreased (P for trend <0.001). This tendency was maintained when participants taking antihypertensive agents at baseline were excluded. Our study showed an inverse relationship between outpatient visit frequency and uncontrolled hypertension.

Association between attentional function and postural instability in Japanese older patients with diabetes mellitus

AimsThis study assessed the association between attentional function and postural instability in older Japanese patients with diabetes.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 168 older patients with diabetes who were referred to an outpatient diabetic clinic between June and July 2013. The Trail Making Test-A (TMT-A) was used to evaluate attentional function. Posturography was used to evaluate postural sway. Indices of postural sway were the total length and the enveloped area. Analysis of covariance was used to estimate the multivariable-adjusted means of indices of postural sway according to tertile of TMT-A.ResultsAfter adjustment for age, sex, regular exercise, diabetic retinopathy, bilateral numbness and/or paresthesia in the feet, hemoglobin A1c level, quadriceps strength, and Mini-Mental State Examination score, patients with lower attentional function had higher postural sway length (tertile 3 vs. tertile 1, pxa0=xa00.010) and enveloped area (tertile 3 vs. tertile 1, pxa0=xa00.030) levels than those with higher attentional function.ConclusionsAmong older patients with diabetes who did not have dementia, patients with lower attentional function may have more postural instability than those with higher attentional function.

A prospective study of the impact of diabetes mellitus on restrictive and obstructive lung function impairment: The Saku study

BACKGROUNDnTo assess the impact of diabetes on restrictive and obstructive lung function impairment.nnnMETHODSnThis 5-year prospective study included 7524 participants aged 40-69years without lung function impairment at baseline who underwent a comprehensive medical check-up between April 2008 and March 2009 at Saku Central Hospital. Diabetes was defined by fasting plasma glucose ≥7.0mmol/l (126mg/dl), HbA1c≥6.5% (48mmol/mol), or a history of diabetes, as determined by interviews conducted by the physicians. Restrictive and obstructive lung function impairment were defined as forced vital capacity (FVC) <80% predicted and forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) to FVC ratio (FEV1/FVC) <0.70, respectively. Participants were screened until they developed restrictive or obstructive lung function impairment or until March 2014.nnnRESULTSnDuring the follow-up period, 171 and 639 individuals developed restrictive and obstructive lung function impairment, respectively. Individuals with diabetes had a 1.6-fold higher risk of restrictive lung function impairment than those without diabetes after adjusting for sex, age, height, abdominal obesity, smoking status, exercise habits, systolic blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol, log-transformed high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and baseline lung function [multivariable-adjusted HR and 95% CI; 1.57 (1.04-2.36)]. In contrast, individuals with diabetes did not have a significantly higher risk of obstructive lung function impairment [multivariable-adjusted HR and 95% CI; 0.93 (0.72-1.21)].nnnCONCLUSIONnDiabetes was associated with restrictive lung function impairment but not obstructive lung function impairment.

Impact of metabolic syndrome on the incidence of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged Japanese individuals with impaired insulin secretion: the Saku study

AimsTo assess the impact of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on the incidence of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged Japanese individuals with impaired insulin secretion (IIS).MethodsThis cohort study included 1,702 individuals aged 40–59 without diabetes at baseline who underwent a comprehensive medical check-up between April 2008 and March 2009 at Saku Central Hospital. Participants were classified according to their IIS and insulin resistance (IR) status [normal, isolated IR (i-IR), or isolated IIS (i-IIS)] and MetS (presence or absence). They were followed up until March 2014. Type 2 diabetes was defined based on fasting and 2-h post-load plasma glucose concentrations and by the receipt of medical treatment for diabetes.ResultsDuring 7,572 person-years of follow-up, 92 individuals developed type 2 diabetes. The incidence rates (/1,000 person-years) for type 2 diabetes in the normal without MetS, normal with MetS, i-IR without MetS, i-IR with MetS, i-IIS without MetS, and i-IIS with MetS groups were 5.3, 3.7, 11.3, 24.7, 16.7, and 59.5, respectively. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95xa0% confidence intervals (CIs) for type 2 diabetes in the normal with MetS, i-IR with MetS, and i-IIS with MetS groups, relative to the normal without MetS group, were 0.52 (0.12–2.25), 3.78 (1.93–7.42), and 7.94 (3.96–15.91), respectively. Additionally, a positive association of MetS with type 2 diabetes was observed in the i-IIS group [HR (95xa0% CI) 3.56 (1.88–6.73)] but not in the normal and i-IR groups.ConclusionsThe prevention of MetS is important, particularly in individuals with low insulin secretion.