Multiple Risk Factor Syndrome In Japanese Male Workers: A Work-Site Cohort Study

Objectives: To demonstrate the relationships between multiple risk factor syndrome (MRFS) and atherosclerotic events, comparing with hypercholesterolemia group (hTC), in Japanese male workers by conducting a work-site cohort study. Methods: From 1986 to 1992, 163 male eligible subjects (MRFS group: n=87; hTC group: n=76) aged 30 years or more, working at a single department store in Tokyo were enrolled, and followed-up until 1998 to observe the occurrence of atherosclerotic events (coronary heart diseases, cerebral infarctions and retinal artery hemorrhages). We defined MRFS group as subjects who met the following criteria: high blood pressure (diastolic blood pressure >= 90 mmHg and/or systolic blood pressure >= 150 mmHg, or the initiation of hypertension therapy), hypertriglyceridemia (serum triglycerides>=160 mg/dl), hyperglycemia (defined by the criteria by Japan Diabetes Society.1970), and obesity (BMI: >= 24.0 kg/m2) at baseline. To compare MRFS group, we also defined hTC group as subjects whose serum total cholesterol level at baseline was 280 mg/dl or more. Results: Eight coronary heart disease cases, 3 cerebral infarction cases and 4 retinal artery hemorrhage cases were observed in MRFS group. On the other hand, no atherosclerotic case was observed in hTC group during the period. Mantel-Haenszel procedure showed that age-adjusted atherosclerosis incidence was significantly higher in MRFS group than that in hTC group (p<0.05). Conclusions: MRFS group are more likely to experience atherosclerotic events compared with hTC group. It is important to focus on health education regarding atherosclerotic outcome prevention towards a cluster of metabolic risk factors, MRFS, in work-site as well as severe hypercholesterolemia.