The relationships between interest for and participation in health screening and risk of mortality: the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: This study examined whether the interest in participation in health screening is associated with reduced mortality in Japan.
METHODS: A total of 68,825 subjects, 40-79 years old, in 29 Japanese communities responded to a questionnaire including interest level and participation status in health screening during 1988-1990. Systematic surveillance was completed until the end of 1999, with 660,682 person-years of follow-up, and the causes of death were determined.
RESULTS: Men and women with low/no interest in health screening had 24-94% higher mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all causes. Women, but not men, with non-participation in health screening had 18-24% excess risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all causes. Men and women with low/no interest and non-participation in health screening had 23-47% excess risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease and all causes. A similar excess risk of mortality was found among men with low/no interest and participation in health screening, but such a trend was less evident among women.
CONCLUSION: Men and women with lower interest and women with no participation in health screening were at high risk for cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. Additionally, men who participated but had lower interest in health screening are also considered as high risk for cardiovascular disease.