Table 2

Trends in age-adjusted and sex-adjusted cardiovascular risk factors among men and women aged 30–84 years in four Japanese communities from 1981 to 2005

1981–19851986–19901991–19951996–20002001–2005p for trend
Men
 N53504992517550394900
 Age, years5556585960
 Systolic BP, mm Hg137134133134133<0.01
 Diastolic BP, mm Hg8181818282<0.01
 Antihypertensive medication, %19.818.617.218.020.10.550
 Hypertension, %49.244.141.344.744.6<0.01
 BMI, kg/m222.722.923.323.523.8<0.01
 Overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m2), %26.229.229.633.534.7<0.01
 Total cholesterol, mmol/litre4.754.894.985.135.23<0.01
 Total cholesterol ≥5.69 mmol/litre, %14.017.720.726.831.4<0.01
 Blood glucose, mmol/litre63.069.767.763.061.1<0.01
 Diabetes mellitus, %3.86.47.17.79.7<0.01
 Heavy drinking (ethanol intake ≥46 g/day), %33.429.828.327.523.1<0.01
 Current smoking, %60.155.852.649.544.6<0.01
 ECG findings, %
  Atrial fibrillation1.41.61.41.51.40.731
  Ventricular premature contraction3.13.03.22.72.50.039
  Supraventricular premature contraction3.34.44.13.63.50.547
  Major ST-T abnormality4.64.13.74.23.90.109
  Minor ST-T abnormality12.510.112.711.911.70.871
  PQ prolonged1.51.21.51.41.20.298
  Complete/incomplete right bundle5.35.25.76.16.7<0.01
  Wide QRS3.03.03.23.64.1<0.01
  Abnormal Q wave0.50.70.60.70.70.431
  Left ventricular hypertrophy29.127.522.519.217.3<0.01
Women
 N79497781846384368082
 Age, years5455565758
 Systolic BP, mm Hg134132130130128<0.01
 Diastolic BP, mm Hg7978787877<0.01
 Antihypertensive medication, %19.218.416.817.018.1<0.01
 Hypertension, %42.037.134.034.933.6<0.01
 BMI, kg/m223.523.423.323.323.2<0.01
 Overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m2), %34.433.431.130.928.0<0.01
 Total cholesterol, mmol/litre5.095.245.275.445.49<0.01
 Total cholesterol ≥5.69 mmol/litre, %24.729.331.139.744.7<0.01
 Blood glucose, mmol/litre58.365.262.657.256.5<0.01
 Diabetes mellitus, %2.13.53.33.94.4<0.01
 Heavy drinking (ethanol intake ≥46 g/day), %0.50.30.50.60.60.109
 Current smoking, %6.35.85.76.67.1<0.01
 ECG findings, %
  Atrial fibrillation0.60.60.30.40.4<0.01
  Ventricular premature contraction2.02.31.82.02.30.825
  Supraventricular premature contraction2.52.73.02.82.90.316
  Major ST-T abnormality6.56.05.04.54.8<0.01
  Minor ST-T abnormality21.918.619.819.517.5<0.01
  PQ prolonged0.60.50.50.50.40.212
  Complete/incomplete right bundle3.53.43.23.33.20.099
  Wide QRS1.51.61.71.61.60.751
  Abnormal Q wave0.20.20.20.20.40.015
  Left ventricular hypertrophy11.19.67.86.04.9<0.01
  • Data are mean values or percentages.

  • BMI, body mass index; BP, blood pressure.