Factors Associated with Awareness, Treatment, and Control Rate of Hypertension among Korean Young Adults Aged 30-49 Years

Abstract

Background and objectives: Hypertension awareness, treatment, and control have been substantially improved in the last decades worldwide, but hypertension management in younger adults is still challenged. We analyzed a nationally representative sample of Korea to investigate factors affecting hypertension management among the young Korean population.

Methods: Among 8,024 young adults aged 30-49 years from the 2014-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1,103 participants with hypertension were analyzed to identify factors associated with hypertension management status. Multiple logistic regression models were conducted separately by sex.

Results: Young adults with hypertension showed a low rate of awareness (35.8%), treatment (30.9%), and control (23.0%). The older age (40-49 years), obese (body mass index ≥25.0 kg/m²), having diabetes mellitus (DM), and having past-history of cardiovascular disease were positively associated with awareness, and taking health examination in the past 2 years were positively associated with both treatment and control of hypertension among male. Young females who were older (40-49 years), rural residents, unemployed, not taking sodium over the recommended amount, having dyslipidemia, and having DM showed a higher likelihood of awareness. Young females who have not experienced unmet medical needs in the past year were more likely to be treated or controlled with hypertension.

Conclusions: The factors associated with hypertension awareness, treatment, and control were different by sex and age group. Enhancing attention on hypertension among young hypertension and encouraging them to visit clinics would be key strategies to improve hypertension management among the young hypertensive population.

Keywords: Disease management; Epidemiologic factor; Hypertension; Young adult.

Figure 1. Adjusted ORs (in log-scale) stratified by age group for hypertension awareness, treatment, and control status among Korean young male adults aged 30–49 years. The ORs were adjusted for age (continuous), obesity, region, marital status, education, occupation, smoking status, drinking status, physical inactivity, sodium over-intake, dyslipidemia, DM, past history of CVD, unmet medical needs in the past year, and health examination in the past 2 years.

BMI = body mass index; CVD = cardiovascular disease; DM = diabetes mellitus; N/A = not available; OR = odds ratio. ^*Defined as not participating or participating less than 150 minutes per week in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; ^†Defined as taking over 2,000 mg/day; ^‡The estimates were not computed due to small sample size.

Figure 2. Adjusted ORs (in log-scale) stratified by age group for hypertension awareness, treatment, and control status among Korean young female adults aged 30–49 years. The ORs were adjusted for age (continuous), obesity, region, marital status, education, occupation, smoking status, drinking status, physical inactivity, sodium over-intake, dyslipidemia, DM, past history of CVD, unmet medical needs in the past year, and health examination in the past 2 years.

BMI = body mass index; CVD = cardiovascular disease; DM = diabetes mellitus; N/A = not available; OR = odds ratio. ^*Defined as not participating or participating less than 150 minutes per week in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; ^†Defined as taking over 2,000 mg/day; ^‡The estimates were not computed due to small sample size.