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Comparative Study
. 2001 Jun;16(2):62-8.
doi: 10.3904/kjim.2001.16.2.62.

The prevalence and awareness of hypertension and the relationship between hypertension and snoring in the Korean population

J S Kim  1 , W H Song, C Shin, C G Park, H S Seo, W J Shim, D J Oh, S H Ryu, Y M Rho
Affiliations
Comparative Study

The prevalence and awareness of hypertension and the relationship between hypertension and snoring in the Korean population

J S Kim et al. Korean J Intern Med. 2001 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is the most important, and yet modifiable, risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. But in many countries, hypertension remains poorly controlled. Moreover, sleep apnea syndrome has shown that it is correlated with hypertension. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence, awareness and control of hypertension among the Korean people and to evaluate the relationship between hypertension and snoring.

Methods: A total of 640 subjects living in Ansan, a regional city in Korea, were selected randomly, and trained nursing students investigated their age, sex, medical history, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) and snoring score. Blood pressures were measured three times with a 10-minute interval and then averaged. The degree of snoring was estimated using a questionnaire. We divided the subjects into hypertensive (BP > or = 140/90 mmHg) versus normotensive group and snorer versus non-snorer group, and correlated hypertension with snoring.

Results: Of 640 subjects, 311 were male. The mean age was 39.7 +/- 14.6 years (18-77 years), the mean BMI (body mass index) was 22.4 +/- 3.0 kg/m2. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 121 +/- 15.7 mmHg and 79.5 +/- 11.6 mmHg. The prevalence and awareness of hypertension were 22.2% and 16.9%, respectively, and the prevalence of snoring was 35.2%. With the increment of age, in the male, the prevalence of hypertension and snoring were higher, and the snorer group showed a higher risk of hypertension than the non-snorer group (Odds ratio 2.32, CI = 1.56-3.39, p = 0.0001).

Conclusion: In Korea, the prevalence of hypertension was similar to that in the western countries, but the awareness of hypertension was much lower compared with western countries. The prevalence of hypertension was higher in the snorer group, so more research on the correlation between the two conditions should be advanced in the future.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Hypertension Awareness. Percentages and number of subjects with hypertension (HTN) aware of the severity of HTN.

  1. 1 Mild Hypertension: SBP 140–159 mmHg or DBP 90–99 mmHg

  2. 2 Moderate Hypertension: SBP 160–179 mmHg or DBP 100–109 mmHg

  3. 3 Severe Hypertension: SBP (180 mmHg or DBP (110 mmHg

Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Awareness, treatment and control of Hypertension. Percentages of NHANES and Korean population (in this study) with hypertension (defined as a blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or more on one or two examinations) who were aware of the condition, receiving treatment and whose hypertension was being controlled (NHANES: National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Prevalence of Hypertension and Snoring by Gender and Age Group.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Prevalence of Hypertension and Snoring, BMI by Age Group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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