Relation between lifestyle and results of health examination was analyzed in 1, 337 men and women, aged 40, 45, 55, 60 and 65 years old, who had health examination conducted at 9 municipalities in Hida district, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. They completed a self-administered questionnaire including various aspects of lifestyle and health behavior. These data were compared with the results of health examination including blood pressure, electrocardiographic and f unduscopic findings, and blood chemistries. The percentage of "very hard activity" in their daily physical activity level (I, light activity; II, moderate activity; III, hard activity; N, very hard activity) was the highest in their fifties in both sexes. The mean health practice scores were higher for women than for men and positively related to age in men and women. The degree of self-rated stress was the lowest in men in their sixties, especially in those with "hard activity". Blood pressure and electrocardiographic and/or f unduscopic findings were related to age in both sexes. Blood pressure showed also a positive correlation with drinking and negative correlation with smoking; positive correlation with the degree of obesity was found in women. Serum lipid level was negatively correlated with age in men. In multiple regression analysis age in both sexes and electrocardiographic and/or funduscopic findings in men had significant independent effects on health practice scores. The percentages of visits of physicians who needed medical care, depending on the examination results, were 50.9% for blood pressure measurement, 54.0% for serum lipid level, as compared with 69.6% for electrocardiographic findings. We conclude that the cooperation should be strengthened between municipalities and physicians in order to increase interest of residents in the health examinations and complete the health guidance after the examinations, depending on the results.
