Report on the results of the seventeenth medical examination of atomic bomb survivors resident in North America

The seventeenth medical examination of A-bomb survivors resident in North America was carried out from September 16th through 30th and from October 7th through 21st, 2009, in the cities of Los Angeles, Honolulu, San Francisco, and Seattle. The total number of those who underwent the seventeenth medical examination was 394, 71 of whom were second-generation A-bomb survivors. As the survivors in North America are advancing in age, the average age of the examinees was 76.3 years. The examination items included an interview, clinical (including surgical and gynecological) examinations and physical measurement, transcutaneous measurement of arterial oxygen saturation, electrocardiography (ECG), and hematology, blood biochemistry, urine, and fecal occult blood reaction test and cervical cancer screening. The review of the medical history showed that hypertension was the most frequent in the survivors examined, with the prevalence of 57.6%. Previous history of malignant tumors was observed in 23.2% of the survivors examined, with major cancer sites being the prostate, mammary gland, colon, and uterus. As a result of the blood biochemistry test, 24.8% of the survivors examined were diagnosed with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Abnormal total cholesterol levels and thyroid dysfunction were found in 51.9% and 23.0% of the survivors examined, respectively. Analyses of the A-bomb survivors who underwent this examination showed no statistically significant associations between distance from the hypocenter and any disease or examination finding. A report providing the results of the medical examination and the necessity of undergoing closer examination, receiving medical treatment, and clinical follow-up, if any, was mailed to each examinee. (author)