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HighlightsFarm work is characterized by physically demanding activities that are frequently associated with ergonomic and injury risks. Farm workers’ psychomotor abilities and muscle mass decrease with age, leading to increased injury risk and decreased work ability.Work ability (WA) was measured using the Work Ability Index (WAI), a self-assessment questionnaire. Results showed that the most common WA level was moderate. WAI scores were correlated with demographic characteristics and health behaviors.The findings suggest that improvement programs should promote enhanced work ability for aging workers to prevent injuries and premature retirement.Abstract. This study assessed the work ability (WA) and identify the factors affecting WA among older adult farm workers in Thailand. A total of 170 older adult farm workers (90 male, 80 female) completed a two-part WA self-assessment questionnaire comprising work-related items and the Work Ability Index (WAI) to determine WA. Total WAI scores ranged from 7 to 49. The average WAI score was 36.0, which is a moderate level. Univariate correlation analysis showed that WAI level was associated with regular medication intake, exercise behavior, sleep duration, health status, and pain symptoms. Body height and income were significantly associated with WAI score. Multivariate correlation analysis showed that WAI level was significantly associated with exercise behavior (odds ratio = 3.12, 95% CI [-1.91, -0.36], p < 0.05) and sleep duration (odds ratio = 2.44, 95% CI [-1.53, -0.26], p < 0.05). WAI score was significantly associated with body height. Older adult farm workers’ WA was generally moderate, and it did not differ by sex. The findings suggest that enhancing older adult workers’ exercise behavior, sleep duration, and related factors would restore or increase their ability to work, promote their health, prevent injuries, and prevent early retirement and work-related disability. Keywords: Aging, Farm worker, Older adult, Thailand, Work ability, Work ability index.

Background: The job environment has changed a lot during the period of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the association between work-related stress and aggravation of pre-existing disease in workers during the first state of COVID-19 emergency in Japan. Methods: Data were obtained from a large internet survey conducted between August 25 and September 30, 2020 in Japan. Participants who reported that they had a job as well as current history of disease(s) (ie, pre-existing conditions) were included (n = 3,090). Aggravation of pre-existing disease during the state of emergency was self-reported. Work-related stress from April 2020 (since the state of COVID-19 emergency) was assessed according to a job demand–control model. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyze the association. Results: Aggravation of pre-existing diseases was reported by 334 participants (11%). The numbers of participants with high demand and low control were 112 (18%) and 100 (14%), respectively. Compared to medium demand, high demand was significantly associated with aggravation of pre-existing diseases (odds ratio 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.30–2.42). Low control compared to medium control was also significantly associated with aggravation of pre-existing diseases (odds ratio 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.92). Conclusion: Work-related stress during the first state of COVID-19 emergency was associated with aggravation of pre-existing disease during that period.

Background Restricting the movement of the public to gathering places and limiting close physical contact are effective measures against COVID-19 infection. In Japan, states of emergency have been declared in specific prefectures to reduce public movement and control COVID-19 transmission. We investigated how COVID-19 infection related experiences including people with a history of infection, people with a history of close contact, and people whose acquaintances have been infected, affected self-restraint from social behaviors during the second state of emergency in Japan. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted among workers aged 20–65 years using data from an internet survey. The baseline survey was conducted on December 22–25, 2020, and a follow-up survey was on February 18–19, 2021. There were 19,051 participants who completed both surveys and were included in the final analysis. We identified eight social behaviors: (1) eating out (4 people or fewer); (2) eating out (5 people or more); (3) gathering with friends and colleagues; (4) day trip; (5) overnight trip (excluding visiting home); (6) visiting home; (7) shopping for daily necessities; and (8) shopping for other than daily necessities. We set self-restraint regarding each social behavior after the second state of emergency was declared in January 2021 as the dependent variable, and COVID-19 infection related experiences as independent variables. Odds ratios were estimated using multilevel logistic regression analyses nested in the prefecture of residence. Results Significant differences by COVID-19 infection related experiences were identified: compared to people without COVID-19 related experiences, people with a history of COVID-19 were less likely self-restraint from most social behaviors. People whose acquaintance had been diagnosed with COVID-19 were significantly more likely to refrain from most social behaviors. There was no significant difference in any social behaviors for people with a history of close contact only. Conclusion To maximize the effect of a state of emergency, health authorities should disseminate information for each person in the target population, taking into account potential differences related to the infection related experiences.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlighted the importance of health emergency and disaster risk management (EDRM) to reduce the risks and impacts of infectious disease outbreaks. We investigated Japan’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on changes made to the current health EDRM. Findings from document analysis and semi-structured interviews with six experts were integrated to provide insights into Japan’s health EDRM to improve outcomes in future health emergencies. Relevant information was extracted from COVID-19 policy documents published by the Japanese government, and the interviews validated and expanded on the data already collected. Challenges faced in the country’s response to COVID-19 and the changes made to the health EDRM framework are summarised. Findings were grouped into human resource topics (including essential health EDRM positions and safety of personnel), health service delivery topics (including public health and hospital primary care services), and logistical topics (including vaccination, personal protective equipment, patient transport, and telecommunications). These responses to the pandemic could serve as an example of good practice for other countries developing strategies for future health emergencies and disasters.

Long working hours in Japan is a social concern. This is also true for the working hours of physicians, who often do side work in addition to working at their main hospital. New physician work regulations to be implemented in Japan require work-hour management, including side work. This study examined the association between physicians' overtime and side work hours and their health outcomes.We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from a survey of working physicians conducted by the Japan Medical Association from 2021 to 2022. Questionnaires completed by 2906 full-time working physicians aged 24-69, excluding junior resident doctors, were analyzed. Depressive symptoms and the presence of thoughts of death or suicide using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology - Japanese version was used to assess health outcomes. Logistic regression analysis was performed using overtime at the main place of employment and side work hours as exposure factors.Both depressive symptoms and thoughts of death or suicide increased in the group with longer overtime hours at the main place of work. A similar tendency was observed for side work but adjusting for overtime hours eliminated the association. In other words, total working hours had an impact on health, regardless of whether overtime work at the main place of employment or side work.Despite the existence of multiple hurdles to managing working hours, including side work, the working environment for physicians needs to be improved to protect their health and quality of medical care.

The aim of this article was to evaluate the correlation between the number of voluntary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) tests conducted and public awareness according to Internet search volumes from Google Trends. We used bivariate correlations to assess the relationship between the Internet search frequency for each term of HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the number of HIV tests, by time series and prefecture. We observed positive correlations between search frequencies of the terms HIV and AIDS and the number of HIV tests in both time-series analysis (HIV: r = 0.65, P < .001; AIDS: r = 0.73, P < .001) and analysis by prefecture (HIV: r = 0.71, P < .001; AIDS: r = 0.40, P = .001). The findings of this study indicate that the current stagnant number of HIV tests conducted in Japan reflects declining public awareness regarding HIV.

ObjectiveTo examine how the mismatch between telecommuting preference and telecommuting frequency was associated with psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsData from 33,302 workers throughout Japan were obtained using an Internet survey. Among 33,302 participants, 20,395 who telecommuted were included in the analysis. Participants’ telecommuting preference and frequency during the COVID-19 pandemic were determined using a questionnaire. Psychological distress was assessed using Kessler 6 (K6).ResultsAmong participants who did and did not prefer to telecommute, those who telecommuted four or more days per week had an OR of psychological distress of 0.67 (pConclusionsThe association between telecommuting and psychological distress differs depending on telecommuting preference.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to clarify which workers’ symptoms led to unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study using questionnaires about COVID-19 administered to Japanese workers. A baseline survey conducted in December 2020 was used to determine workers’ health history. Unemployment since the baseline survey was ascertained with a follow-up survey in December 2021. The odds ratios (ORs) of unemployment were estimated using a multilevel logistic model with adjusted covariates nested in prefecture of residence.ResultsMales (n = 8,682) accounted for 58.2% of the total sample (n = 14,910), and the mean age was 48.2 years. Multivariate analysis showed that workers with “pain-related problems,” “limited physical movement and mobility,” “fatigue, loss of strength or appetite, fever, dizziness, and moodiness,” “mental health problems,” or “sleep” had a greater probability of resigning for health reasons, resigning for all reasons other than retirement, and being unemployed. Those with “skin, hair, and cosmetic concerns” or “eye-related matters” had a greater probability of becoming unemployed.ConclusionsWe identified an association between workers’ symptoms and resignation or unemployment, with different symptoms having different ORs. Furthermore, there were differences in the associations among the effects of symptoms, work dysfunction, resignation/unemployment, and attitudes of others. Preventive interventions to help workers resolve or improve their symptoms could prevent their becoming unemployed or resigning.

Many factors are related to vaccination intentions. However, gender differences in the determinants of intention to get the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine have not been fully investigated. This study examined gender differences in the determinants of willingness to get the COVID-19 vaccine among the working-age population in Japan. We conducted a cross-sectional study of Japanese citizens aged 20–65 years using an online self-administered questionnaire in December 2020. Logistic regression analysis was performed. Among 27,036 participants (13,814 men and 13,222 women), the percentage who were willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine was lower among women than among men (33.0% vs. 41.8%). Age and education level showed a gender gap regarding the association with willingness to get the COVID-19 vaccine: men who were older or had a higher level of education were more willing to get the vaccine, whereas women aged 30–49 years and those with a higher level of education showed a relatively low willingness to get the vaccine. For both men and women, marriage, higher annual household income, underlying disease, current smoking, vaccination for influenza during the current season, and fear of COVID-19 transmission were linked to a higher likelihood of being willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. These findings give important insight into identifying target groups in need of intervention regarding COVID-19 vaccination, especially among women. Providing education about COVID-19 and influenza vaccination in the workplace may be an effective strategy to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

The ever-changing social implications of the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in an urgent need to understand the working environments and health status of workers. We conducted a nationwide Internet-based health survey of Japanese workers in December 2020, in the midst the country's "third wave" of COVID-19 infection. Of 33,087 surveys collected, 6,051 were determined to have invalid responses. The 27,036 surveys included in the study were balanced in terms of geographical area, sex of participants, and type of work, according to the sampling plan. Men were more likely than women to have telecommuted, while women were more likely to have resigned since April 2020. Forty percent and 9.1% of respondents had a K6 score of 5 or higher and 13 or higher, respectively, and they did not exhibit extremely poor health. The present study describes the protocol used to conduct an Internet-based health survey of workers and a summary of its results during a period when COVID-19 was spreading rapidly in Japan. In the future, we plan to use this survey to examine the impact of COVID-19 on workers' work styles and health.

BackgroundVaccine hesitancy is a major issue for acquiring herd immunity. However, some individuals may go unvaccinated owing to inhibitory factors other than vaccine hesitancy. If there is even a small number of such people, support is needed for equitable vaccine distribution and acquiring herd immunity. We investigated sociodemographic factors that affected not undergoing COVID-19 vaccination in Japan among individuals who initially had strong intention to vaccinate.MethodsWe conducted this prospective cohort study on workers aged 20–65 years from December 2020 (baseline), to December 2021 using a self-administered questionnaire survey. There were 27,036 participants at baseline and 18,560 at follow-up. We included 6,955 participants who answered yes to this question at baseline: “Would you like to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it becomes available?” We applied multilevel logistic regression analyses to examine the association between sociodemographic factors and being unvaccinated at follow-up.ResultsIn all, 289 participants (4.2%) went unvaccinated. The odds ratios (ORs) for being unvaccinated were significantly higher for participants aged 30–39 and 40–49 than those aged 60–65 years. Being divorced, widowed, or single, having low income, and having COVID-19 infection experience also had higher ORs.ConclusionsWe found that some participants who initially had strong intention to vaccinate may have gone unvaccinated owing to vaccine side effects and the financial impact of absenteeism due to side effects. It is necessary to provide information repeatedly about the need for vaccination as well as social support to ensure that those who intend to vaccinate are able to do so.

We aimed to clarify the current status and challenges of supervisory organizations' support for the health and safety of technical intern trainees in Japan. We also assessed the effectiveness of collaboration with occupational health professionals at a training site to investigate the potential for such collaboration to help solve related problems.In October 2021, we distributed a questionnaire survey by postal mail to 3,262 supervisory organizations. We requested responses from those directly engaged in training technical intern trainees and those connected with training companies. We inquired regarding the frequency and difficulty of providing support for the health and safety of technical intern trainees (based on 22 survey items). Subsequently, we conducted a multiple logistic regression analysis to assess the association between collaboration with occupational health professionals and the difficulty of obtaining support.The analysis included 932 cases (response rate: 28.6%). Vietnam (76.6%) was the most frequent country of origin for trainees, and 10-49 (30.3%) was the most frequent range for the number of trainees. Over the preceding year, 17.0% of the organizations had collaborated with occupational health professionals at the training site. The most frequently indicated items on the survey were "explaining and interpretating for medical checkups," "providing traffic safety education and interpretation," and "accompanying and interpreting for health care facilities." Over 80% of the respondents answered that these actions were easy to implement. In contrast, only 30-40% of respondents answered that "counseling on mental health problems," "counseling on marriage, pregnancy, and childbirth," and "counseling on sexual harassment and power harassment" were easy to implement. The supervisory organizations that had collaborated with occupational health professionals tended to report that "providing traffic safety education and interpretation" (p = .049) and "providing health and safety education and interpretation" (p = .072) were easier than they were for organizations that had no support from occupational health professionals.The supervisory organizations surveyed faced challenges in dealing with mental health problems, marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, and harassment of technical intern trainees. Those organizations that collaborated with occupational health professionals found it easier to provide education on traffic safety and occupational safety and health education. Thus, the presence of a person in charge of health and safety in the planning of training programs and opportunities for education was considered important for promoting collaboration between supervisory organizations and occupational health professionals.

ObjectiveWe examined whether teleworking preference and frequency were associated with work functioning impairment.MethodsThis online cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire among 27,036 full-time Japanese workers. The Work Functioning Impairment Scale was used to measure work functioning impairment, and we performed multilevel logistic regression analysis.ResultsHigher odds ratios for work functioning impairment were observed among employees who preferred to telework compared with those who preferred working in the workplace. A similar trend was observed among employees who teleworked 4 or more days a week compared with those who almost never teleworked. When teleworking preference and frequency were adjusted, only teleworking preference was associated with work functioning impairment.ConclusionsA preference for teleworking was associated with work functioning impairment and one factor that increased the teleworking frequency.

OBJECTIVE To assess the relationship between overactive bladder (OAB) and indoor temperatures in the living room and bedroom. METHODS Questionnaire data and indoor temperature measurements were obtained from a baseline survey collected during the winter months from November 2014 to March 2019. We performed multiple logistic regression to assess the relationships between OAB and indoor temperatures in the living room and bedroom. RESULTS The prevalence of overactive bladder was 16.4% among 4782 participants living in 2453 dwellings. The odds of having OAB were higher for participants whose average living room temperature at bedtime was lower than 12°C than for those whose average bedtime living room temperature was at least 18°C (adjusted odds ratio = 1.44, 95% confidence interval: 1.03-2.00). No association was observed between bedroom temperature and OAB. CONCLUSION These results suggest that thermal comfort in the living room—but not in the bedroom—may improve OAB symptoms. Additionally, using sufficient bedding may prevent cold bedrooms from having a negative impact in terms of OAB. Future studies should focus on housing interventions and education regarding lifestyle modification in patients with OAB.

Significance Histamine has been known to play important roles in inflammation, and its inhibition has been expected to ameliorate the pathological statement of heart failure and chronic kidney disease. In this paper, we found that histamine is elevated in the plasma of a preclinical mouse model with severe cardiac dysfunction and showed that it acts protectively rather than harmfully on heart and kidney damages in this model. In addition, we showed that a histamine H3 agonist, Imm, prevents the cardiorenal damages in this model. Accordingly, this paper will be helpful for developing new therapeutic strategies for cardiorenal syndrome, and it will serve as a basis for repositioning the application of H3 agonists to the inflammatory heart and kidney damages., Heart failure and chronic kidney disease are major causes of morbidity and mortality internationally. Although these dysfunctions are common and frequently coexist, the factors involved in their relationship in cardiorenal regulation are still largely unknown, mainly due to a lack of detailed molecular targets. Here, we found the increased plasma histamine in a preclinical mouse model of severe cardiac dysfunction, that had been cotreated with angiotensin II (Ang II), nephrectomy, and salt (ANS). The ANS mice exhibited impaired renal function accompanied with heart failure, and histamine depletion, by the genetic inactivation of histidine decarboxylase in mice, exacerbated the ANS-induced cardiac and renal abnormalities, including the reduction of left ventricular fractional shortening and renal glomerular and tubular injuries. Interestingly, while the pharmacological inhibition of the histamine receptor H3 facilitated heart failure and kidney injury in ANS mice, administration of the H3 agonist immethridine (Imm) was protective against cardiorenal damages. Transcriptome analysis of the kidney and biochemical examinations using blood samples illustrated that the increased inflammation in ANS mice was alleviated by Imm. Our results extend the pharmacological use of H3 agonists beyond the initial purposes of its drug development for neurogenerative diseases and have implications for therapeutic potential of H3 agonists that invoke the anti-inflammatory gene expression programming against cardiorenal damages.

ObjectiveWe examined the association between presenteeism and risk of job resignations and unemployment among Japanese workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA prospective study of 27,036 Internet monitors was conducted, starting in December 2020, with 18,560 (68.7%) participating in the follow-up by December 2021. The Work Functioning Impairment Scale (WFun) was used to measure the degree of work function impairment.ResultsThe group with the highest WFun scores had higher odds ratios (ORs) for both retirement and unemployment for health reasons than the group with the lowest WFun scores. ORs were 2.97 (95%CI: 2.46-3.59, pConclusionsWorkers with work functioning impairment were at increased risk of resignation or unemployment. Management strategies for workers with work functioning impairment are needed to reduce their disadvantages in employment.

Background: The Go To Travel campaign in Japan was launched to subsidize travel and accommodation costs for tourists through vouchers that could be used at domestic destinations. We examined the relationship between using Go To Travel and infection prevention behaviors.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 26,637 workers who responded to a large-scale questionnaire survey about COVID-19 under the pandemic in Japan. We undertook logistic regression analysis.Results: Among the 26,637 participants, 7,959 (30%) used Go To Travel. Compared with non-Go To Travel users, we observed statistically significant differences in multivariate analysis with Go To travel users for the following: gargling (odds ratio [OR], 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87–0.97; P = .001); room ventilation (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.88–0.99; P = .017); and washing hands (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.89–1.00; P = .036).Conclusions: We observed the tendency for Go To Travel users not to implement some infection prevention behaviors. It is necessary to continue the encouragement of applying infection prevention behaviors: implementing such travel support policies as Go To Travel during COVID-19 could spread the risk of infection.Trial registration: Not applicable

This study examined the relationship between frequency of working from home and low back pain (LBP), considering the quality of work environment.The study was based on a cross-sectional internet-based survey. Of 33 302 respondents, data from 12 774 desk workers were retained for analysis. We used a 0-10 numerical rating scale to assess LBP. Work environment was assessed using five subjective questions. Mixed-effects logistic regression nested by city level was used to analyze the relationship between frequency of working from home and LBP, stratified by work environment condition.The prevalence of LBP was 21.0%. Among those reporting a poor work environment, as opposed to almost never working from home, the multivariate odds ratio (OR) of LBP were as follows: working from home less than 1 day per week: OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 0.89-1.76, p = .190; 2-3 days per week: OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.16-2.16, p = .004; and 4 or more days per week: OR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.38-2.40, p .001. By contrast, among those reporting a good work environment, the OR of LBP did not increase as the frequency of working from home increased.The relationship between LBP and frequency of working from home was found to vary with the quality of the work environment; more specifically, LBP was associated with frequency of teleworking in a poor work environment. This study suggests that employers should give more support to their employees in promoting a good work environment to prevent LBP. (Words: 240/250).

BackgroundDue to the COVID-19 pandemic, non-married people are at high risk of loneliness. With social interactions restricted, it is important for non-married people to acquire a new romantic partner for their mental health and quality of life. We hypothesized that infection control efforts in the workplace influence people’s social interactions, including romantic activities.MethodsWe conducted an internet-based prospective cohort study from December 2020 (baseline) to December 2021, using self-administered questionnaires. Briefly, 27,036 workers completed the questionnaires at baseline, and when followed up after one year, 18,560 (68.7%) participated. A total of 6,486 non-married individuals with no romantic relationship at baseline were included in the analysis. At baseline they were asked about the implementation of infection control measures in the workplace, and at follow-up they were asked about activities they performed with a view to romantic relationships during the period from baseline to follow-up.ResultsCompared to workers in workplaces with no infection control measures, the OR associated with romance-related activities for those in workplaces with seven or more infection control measures was 1.90 (95% CI: 1.45-2.48, pConclusionsUnder the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of infection control measures in the workplace and the expressed satisfaction with those measures promoted romantic relationships among non-married, single individuals.