Impact of reduced pulmonary function in the Japanese general population: Lessons from the Yamagata-Takahata study

Regional epidemiological studies for respiratory diseases have been rarely performed in Japan, because spirometry is not regularly conducted in the standard annual health checks. The Yamagata-Takahata Study is an epidemiological study utilizing regional characteristics based on the 21st Century Centers of Excellence (COE) Program and the Global COE Program. Spirometric examination and other specific measurements via blood sampling were performed for the study participants in annual health check-ups held in Takahata, a town in Yamagata Prefecture. The Yamagata-Takahata Study revealed the impact of cigarette smoking habit on pulmonary function, the impact of reduced pulmonary function on mortality, and the situation regarding COPD comorbidities in Japan. Additionally, the study identified biomarkers of decline in pulmonary function among active smokers, and the risk factors for respiratory mortality in Japan. In this review, we summarize the findings of the Yamagata-Takahata study regarding the association between lower pulmonary function and the clinical characteristics of a Japanese general population.