Objective: This study aimed to clarify the relationship between oral function, assessed by gargling, and suspected neurodevelopmental disorders in 5-year-old children.

Methods: We used maternal and child health data from 1,490 pairs of parents and 5-year-old children who received health checkups in one municipality in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The data were obtained during the mother’s pregnancy period and children’s health checkups. In The evaluation of the children’s oral function during examination by a pediatrician, those suspected of having autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were classified under “ASD or ADHD”; those who had other developmental findings were classified under “other developmental findings.” The relationship was analyzed using a nominal logistic regression analysis.

Results: The odds ratio (95%Confidence interval) for “not possible” or “problematic” in the oral function of the 5-year-old health checkup was 2.64 (1.68-4.15) for “ASD and ADHD” and 1.70 (1.11-2.61) for “other developmental findings.”

Conclusion: Children with suspected neurodevelopmental disorders are likely to have comorbid oral functional issues. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a system in which they can receive professional support. To enable timely support, it is useful to implement gargling at home or at the child’s preschool.

Based on the life table and mortality database of the World Health Organization in 2019, this study clarifies the sex difference in life expectancy by cause of death and age group in Mongolia. The results showed that the sex difference in life expectancy at birth in Mongolia (8.9 years) was the largest in Asia, and was growing. The analysis of mortality rate by cause of death showed that the difference was the largest for the external causes of injury and poisoning (31.9%), following malignant tumours (18.1%), ischemic heart disease (17.1%), cerebrovascular disease (10.4%), and other heart diseases (4.9%), so-called Non-communicable diseases, but tuberculosis, which had been the major infectious disease in Mongolia for many years, became low, that was undergoing an epidemiological transition. Among these causes, accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol and liver cancer contributed most to the sex difference in life expectancy, especially in working-age groups, and it was considered that the root cause of such deaths was the excessive alcohol consumption among males. The Mongolian government has been well aware of the negative impact of alcohol consumption on the health of Mongolian males, and has carried out many studies, projects and campaigns. Still, the situation has not improved due to a lack of specialists and of monitoring, evaluation and follow-up. It is suggested to consider what age and diseases should be prioritised from the perspectives of fairness and public health.

This study focused on Heavy Episodic Drinking (HED) among workers in their 20s and 30s and examined the prevalence of alcohol use disorders based on the frequency of HED. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a monitor-type web survey. The study used the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) to assess alcohol use disorders. The participants were 1,393 men and 2,605 women in their 20s and 30s who had engaged in HED at least once a month and had not received any treatment for alcohol-related issues. The results showed that the frequency of HED among men was 45.1% once a month, 34.9% once a week, and 20.0% almost daily, whereas among women, it was 50.4% once a month, 33.4% once a week, and 16.3% almost daily. Among those who engaged in HED once a month, 40% of men and 30% of women had high levels of alcohol-related problems. Moreover, the usual amount of alcohol consumed was averaging equivalent of 3 to 4 drinks. Among those who engaged in HED once a week, 60% of men and 50% of women had high levels of alcohol-related problems. Furthermore, signs of dependence and harmful use were less frequent among women compared to men.