Mortality risk among screened subjects of the specific health check and guidance program in Japan 2008–2012

Background In Japan, the Specific Health Check and Guidance (Tokutei-Kenshin) has started in 2008. However, the relationship between the baseline characteristics and mortality has not been examined. Methods Subjects were those who participated at the 2008 Tokutei-Kenshin in six districts with baseline data of serum creatinine. Using National database of death certificate from 2008 to 2012, we identified those who might have died and confirmed further with the collaborations of the regional National Health Insurance agency and public health nurses. The data was released to the research team supported by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan, and is governed by strict regulation and is completely encrypted with the individual’s name and residence. Causes of death were classified by ICD-10. Results Among the total of 295,297 subjects, we identified 3764 fatal cases by end of 2012. The median BMI was 23.8 kg/m 2 in men and 22.5 kg/m 2 in women, respectively. Proteinuria, dipstick 1+ and over, was positive in 5.3%. The median eGFR was 73.8 ml/min/1.73 m 2 among those with data available in 81% of the total cohort ( N = 239,274). The leading cause of death was neoplasm in both genders. It was 51.6% of the total, 50.4% in men and 53.7% in women. The second cause of death was circulatory; 20.4% of the total, 21.1% in men and 19.2% in women. Conclusion Half of the causes of death was related to neoplasm among the cohort of the Tokutei-Kenshin. Effects of baseline demographics such as lifestyle and CKD remained to be studied.