Prevalence, treatment, and control of cardiovascular disease risk factors among adults in Shiga Prefecture: analysis using the receipt and health checkup information database in Japan

OBJECTIVES: Measuring the frequency of prevalence, treatment, and control of cardiovascular disease risk factors is indispensable for creating strategic plans for preventing lifestyle-related diseases. We calculated the prevalence, treatment and control of lifestyle-related diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, and hyper-low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterolemia among adults aged ≥40 years, using the receipt and health checkup information database in Japan.

METHODS: The participants in this study were 211,976 residents in Shiga Prefecture, who received specific health checkups in 2008 under the national health insurance system. The main outcome measures included rates of prevalence, treatment, and control, and 95% confidence intervals for hypertension, diabetes, and hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia stratified by sex and 5-year age groups.

RESULTS: The rates of prevalence and treatment of hypertension increased gradually with age. The control rates for hypertension were approximately 55%, which were similar regardless of sex and age. An age-dependent gradual increase was observed for diabetes in prevalence (both sexes) and treatment (men only) rate. The control rates for diabetes were about 50%. In hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia, the prevalence rate in women and treatment rates in both sexes showed age-dependent increases; the control rates (63-80%) were also age-dependent.

CONCLUSION: Comprehensive details about sex and age-specific prevalence, treatment, and control rates of cardiovascular disease risk factors were shown by using the receipt and health checkup information database in Japan. In particular, information regarding the control rates of cardiovascular disease risk factors will be utilized for preventing lifestyle-related diseases in Japan.