Relationships between the prevalence of stroke history and lifestyle habits based on the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan Open Data

Abstract Aim Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability in Japan, and lifestyle factors play a significant role in its prevalence. Despite its potential, few studies have utilized the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan (NDB) Open Data to investigate associations between lifestyle factors and stroke at the population level. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the prevalence of stroke history and lifestyle habits using the NDB Open Data. Subject and methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of the aggregated NDB Open Data, covering responses to standardized health checkup questionnaires from 2014 to 2022. The prevalence of stroke history and various lifestyle factors such as smoking, physical activity, and dietary habits were analyzed by prefecture, sex, and age group. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were calculated to assess association. Results A total of 5992 data points were analyzed. The average prevalence of stroke history was 1.799% (95% CI 1.797–1.801), with the highest in Okinawa (3.108%). The prevalence of stroke history showed a strong positive correlation with the prevalence of heart disease history ( r = 0.96) and efforts to improve lifestyle habits ( r = 0.81). Unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking and weight gain were strongly interrelated. Conclusion The prevalence of stroke history correlated with the rate of lifestyle modifications, suggesting that individuals with a history of stroke tend to appropriately improve their lifestyle habits. These findings underscore the potential utility of aggregated health checkup data for identifying population-level trends and informing public health strategies.