Daily step counts were associated with suicide in all 47 prefectures of Japan

Nobuyuki Miyatake, Noriko Sakano, Akira Yoshioka, Takeshi Yoda, Takeshi Suzue, Tomohiro Hirao

Department of Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki, Kagawa, Japan.
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki, Kagawa, Japan.

DOI: 10.4236/ojepi.2013.32015                

Abstract

The link between suicide and daily step counts was evaluated in all 47 prefectures of Japan by ecological study. The crude rate of suicide was significantly and negatively correlated with daily step counts. However, the association between the age-adjusted rate of suicide and daily step counts was noted only in men. These results suggest that increasing daily step counts may be useful for preventing suicide, especially in men, in Japan.

Keywords

Suicide; Daily Step Counts; Ecological Study; Japan

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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