A QOL (Quality of Life) medical examination for apple growers was held on March 18th and 19th in Aomori.

This medical examination was conducted by Hirosaki City in collaboration with the Aomori Prefecture Apple Association (Jotochuo, Hirosaki City) and the Hirosaki University COI (Center of Innovation) Research Promotion Organization. This is the first medical examination for apple producers in the prefecture. Keiji Wada, an assistant professor at the Frailty Syndrome Research Course, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, says that it is rare in Japan. "Many apple producers are self-employed and few go to regular checkups. Data show that the lifespan of first industry workers is short in Aomori prefecture, which is called a short-lived prefecture."

"COI" is an abbreviation for "COI STREAM", an innovative innovation creation program adopted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Adopted in 2013 (Heisei 25), Hirosaki University is conducting a project to continuously collect about 600 items of medical examination data for residents of the Iwaki district (formerly Iwaki Town) of the city for 10 years. The acquired big data will be analyzed and used to extend healthy life expectancy and detect signs of illness.

About 50 apple producers visited the clinic on both days. There are 8 types of QOL medical examination items such as grip strength and bone density. The daily necessities maker "Lion" participating in the COI of Hirosaki University has an oral examination, the seasoning comprehensive maker "Kagome" has skin carotenoid measurement (vegetable check) to measure vegetable intake, and the daily necessities maker "Kao" has its own technology. We cooperated in the measurement of visceral fat using the "abdominal bioimpedance method" developed in.

“Speaking of medical examinations, there are cases where blood pressure rises by itself, so I wanted people to participate with a fun feeling like an athletic meet,” says Wada. The venue was filled with a smile, with the examiners yelling and welcoming them with a smile.

The measurement data was handed over on the spot, and a health class was held after the measurement. In addition to telling how to read the examination results and how to improve health, we will provide monthly follow-up teaching materials for 10 months. We propose solutions that utilize effect measurement and big data, and plan to conduct QOL medical examinations again in February next year. It is said that they will deepen their understanding of health by comparing with the results of this measurement.

Mr. Wada said, "Aomori apples are delicious and I am always pleased when I give them outside the prefecture. I want apple producers to be healthy because I want them to continue making such Aomori apples. I hope it helps to extend it. "