Association between Dietary Diversity and Sociopsychological Factors and the Onset of Dyslipidemia after the Great East Japan Earthquake: Fukushima Health Management Survey

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the onset of low-density lipoprotein hypercholesterolemia (hyper-LDLemia), high-density lipoprotein hypocholesterolemia (hypo-HDLemia), and hyper-triglyceridemia (hyper-TGemia) and lifestyle/socio-psychological factors among Fukushima evacuation area residents after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Participants included 11,274 non-hyper-LDLemia, 16,581 non-hypo-HDLemia, and 12,653 non-hyper-TGemia cases in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2011. In FY2011, these participants underwent a health checkup and responded to a mental health and lifestyle survey. The onset of each disease was followed through FY2017. The evacuation experience was positively associated with the risk of hyper-LDLemia, hypo-HDLemia, or hyper-TGemia. Conversely, the middle high dietary diversity score was negatively associated with the onset of hyper-TGemia. Moreover, low sleep satisfaction was positively associated with hypo-HDLemia and hyper-TGemia. The “almost never” exercise habit was positively associated with hypo-HDLemia. Current smoking and audible nuclear power plant explosions were positively associated with the risk of hyper-TGemia. Drinking habits exhibited a negative association with the onset of hyper-LDLemia, hypo-HDLemia, and hyper-TGemia. The results of this study indicate the need for continuous improvement in lifestyle, as well as efforts to eliminate the impact of disasters to prevent the onset of dyslipidemia among disaster evacuees.