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. 2018 May;59(3):356-365.
doi: 10.3349/ymj.2018.59.3.356.

Trends in Blood Pressure and Prevalence of Hypertension in Korean Adults Based on the 1998-2014 KNHANES

Tae Jong Kim #  1   2 , Jae Woo Lee #  1 , Hee Taik Kang  3   4   5 , Myeong Chan Cho  6 , Hyoung Ji Lim  1 , Jin Young Kim  1 , Jang Whan Bae  6 , Yong Jae Lee  7 , Sang Hyun Lee  8 , John A Linton  9 , Yeseul Kim  1
Affiliations

Trends in Blood Pressure and Prevalence of Hypertension in Korean Adults Based on the 1998-2014 KNHANES

Tae Jong Kim et al. Yonsei Med J. 2018 May.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate trends in blood pressure (BP) and hypertension prevalence in Korea.

Materials and methods: Based on the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) I (1998), II (2001), III (2005), IV (2007-2009), V (2010-2012), and VI (2013-2014), 56077 participants (23974 men and 32103 women) were included.

Results: Mean systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) decreased in both sexes (male SBP: 128.1 to 120.2 mm Hg, male DBP: 82.0 to 78.5 mm Hg; female SBP: 125.7 to 116.0 mm Hg and female DBP: 77.4 to 73.2 mm Hg from the KNHANES I-VI). The age-standardized prevalence of hypertension was significantly decreased in both sexes (male; 33.3% to 30.3%, female; 28.7% to 22.7%, all p for trend <0.001). Regardless of taking anti-hypertensive medication or not, SBP and DBP declined universally in both sexes. Compared to the KNHANES I, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of the KNHANES II to VI for less-than-normotensive and less-than-hypertensive BP increased in both sexes.

Conclusion: Mean BP levels in both sexes and hypertension prevalence showed downward trends during the 16-year period.

Keywords: Trend; blood pressure; epidemiology; hypertension; prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Trends in the age-standardized prevalence of hypertension and the participants with anti-hypertensive medication. (A) The age-standardized prevalence of hypertension. (B) The age-standardized prevalence of the participants with anti-hypertensive medication. Standardized to the age structure of the 2005 Korean population. p for trend was determined by logistic regression after setting the KNHANES phase as the continuous variable. KNHANES, Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Prevalence trends of less-than-normotensive BP or less-than-hypertensive BP according to KNHANES phase. (A) The prevalence of less-than-normotensive BP. (B) The prevalence of less-than-hypertensive BP. p for trend was determined by linear regression analysis with weighting of survey design. Less-than-normotensive BP, SBP <120 mm Hg and DBP <80 mm Hg; less-than-hypertensive BP, SBP <140 mm Hg and DBP <90 mm Hg. KNHANES, Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; BP, blood pressure; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. ORs for less-than-normotensive or less-than-hypertensive BP according to KNHANES phase. (A) ORs trends for less-than-normotensive and less-than-hypertensive BP in men. (B) ORs trends for less-than-normotensive and less-than-hypertensive BP in women. Less-than-normotensive BP, SBP <120 mm Hg and DBP <80 mm Hg; less-than-hypertensive BP, SBP <140 mm Hg and DBP <90 mm Hg. Adjusting for age, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, sufficient activity, heavy alcohol drinking, smoking status, energy intake, and sodium intake. ORs, odds ratios; KNHANES, Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; BP, blood pressure; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure.
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