Assessment of aging process and health effects of the population living in a methylmercury polluted area

本研究根据1999年和2003年的健康检查结果，对水俣县（纲木町）和对照区（A町）的居民健康状况进行了比较。还比较了与心血管疾病风险相关的8个项目的平均值，包括高和/或低胆固醇水平的患病率。1999年，在两种性别中，Tsunagi的高HbAlc水平和低HDL胆固醇水平的患病率均高于“A”镇，但2003年Tsunagi的HbAlc患病率并不比“A”镇高。Tsunagi的其他测试项目的平均值和患病率并没有显着高于对照区。换句话说，没有证据表明纲木的不健康程度高于对照区。但是，津贺县高HDL水平的发生率和标准化死亡率（SMR）高于对照区，这说明有理由对津贺县的动脉粥样硬化现状进行调查。这些结果表明，随访检查是保健管理和指导的必要方面，还需要进一步的随访研究来分析预期寿命。

This study compares the health conditions of residents living in the Minamata disease outbreak area(Tsunagi town) with a control area(town "A"), and is based on date from medical heath examinations conducted in 1999 and 2003. The mean values of 8 items related to cardiovascular disease risks, including the prevalence of high-and/or low-cholesterol levels, were also compared. In 1999 the prevalence of high HbAlc levels and low HDL cholesterol levels was greater in Tsunagi than in town "A" in both sexes, but the prevalence of HbAlc was not greater in Tsunagi than in town "A" in 2003. The mean and prevalence of the other items tested were not significantly higher in Tsunagi than the control area. In other words, there is no evidence of higher levels of unhealthiness in Tsunagi than in the control area. However, the prevalence of higher HDL levels in Tsunagi and a higher SMR(standardized mortality rate) than the control area suggests there is a reason to look into the current state atherosclerosis in Tsunagi.These results indicate that follow-up examination are a necessary aspect of health care management and guidance, and further follow-up studies to analyze life expectancies are also required.