[Influence of the changes in food intake patterns and smoking and drinking habits on stroke--20-year follow-up survey in the Oki-Islands, Shimane Prefecture, Japan].

In 1968 (the first survey), the food intake patterns and smoking and drinking habits of the 3,546 male and 4,350 female inhabitants aged 40-74, of the Oki-Islands, Shimane, Japan were investigated. The response rates were 64% for males and 65% for females. A second survey according the same protocol was carried out from 1987 to 1988. A total of 1,140 males and 1,694 females were randomly selected from the cohort members who were completely followed up from 1968 to 1987. The overall response rates at the second survey were 91.2% for male and 88.9% for female. The results are summarized as follows: 1. 'Saltless' dietary habits significantly advanced in both sexes of all age groups (40-49, 50-59, and 60-74 years old in 1968) and in both hypertensives and normotensives; the frequency of pickle intake significantly decreased, while that of miso soup intake did not change. Nutritional improvement was remarkable in that the frequency of fish, meat, eggs, milk, green vegetable and fruit intakes increased in both sexes of all age groups and in both hypertensives and normotensives. 2. The frequency of smoking significantly decreased in all age groups and in both male hypertensives and normotensives, in contrast with that of drinking. The frequencies of smoking and drinking showed the same tendencies in females. 3. The frequencies of smoking, drinking, and miso soup intake were higher in males who died from strokes than in those who died from other causes from 1968 to 1987, in contrast with the intakes of eggs and milk.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)