Changes in Hepatobiliary Enzyme Abnormality After the Great East Japan Earthquake: The Fukushima Health Management Survey

Although the incidence of hepatobiliary enzyme abnormality increased immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, longer-term trends remain unclear. The aims of this study were to determine longer-term trends in hepatobiliary enzyme abnormality and to elucidate lifestyle factors associated with such changes among residents of a nuclear-disaster-affected area. This longitudinal survey enrolled 20,395 adults living in the vicinity of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Data were obtained from the records of annual health checkups of adults aged >= 40 years between 2011 and 2012. Follow-up examinations were conducted from June 2013 to March 2014. Associations were assessed between changes in hepatobiliary enzyme abnormality immediately and 3-4 years after the disaster and lifestyle factors. The overall prevalence of hepatobiliary enzyme abnormality significantly decreased over the study period, from 29.9% to 27.1%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations between improved hepatobiliary enzyme abnormality and improvements in daily physical activity and frequency of breakfast consumption. The results suggest that improvements in daily physical activity and frequency of breakfast consumption significantly reduced the incidence of hepatobiliary enzyme abnormality 3-4 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident.