Abstract
Objectives: In Japan controversy exists as to whether or not the risk factors for
ischemic heart disease (IHD) are the same as in western countries. We conducted a
case-control study on IHD to clarify the risk factors in males in an urban area of
Japan using our automated multiphasic health testing and services (AMHTS) system.
Method: Cases were the clients who took the health check-up between January 1987 and
July 1994 and had onset of IHD after the check-up. For each case five clients were
selected as controls by conditional matching. The check-up data were compared between
cases and controls 11 years, 6 years and just before the onset of the heart diseases.
Results: The statistically significant items were as follows: (1) Eleven years before
the onset: Total cholesterol (T-Chol) for myocardial infarction (MI), and fasting
blood sugar (FBS) for angina pectoris (AP). (2) Six years before the onset: T-Chol,
electrocardiographic (ECG) findings and the complaint of palpitation or breathlessness
for MI, and FBS and palpitation or breathlessness for AP. (3) Just before the onset:
T-Chol, the complaint of chest pain, FBS, smoking index and hypertensive status for
MI and palpitation or breathlessness, ECG findings, chest pain, systolic blood pressure
and erythrocyte sedimentation rate at 60 minutes for AP. In conclusion, the risk factors
for MI in males in an urban area of Japan are the same as in western countries. The
most significant risk factor for AP in males in an urban area of Japan is fasting
blood sugar.
Keywords
Ischemic Heart Disease - Risk Factors
