Prevalence and management of hypertension in Korean adults

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and death worldwide; however, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments that lower blood pressure can reduce this risk. Therefore, screening for hypertension is highly recommended for all adults.Current Concepts: The prevalence of hypertension, defined as systolic blood pressure >140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure >90 mmHg, is estimated to be 29.0% in Korean adults aged ≥19 years and 34.2% in those aged ≥30 years. No significant change is observed in age-standardized hypertension in recent times; however, the crude prevalence of hypertension is increasing owing to rapid population aging in Korea. The awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension in Korean adults have improved significantly to 72.0%, 66.0%, and 48.0%, respectively. Notably, the number of patients with hypertension who consistently use antihypertensive drugs is gradually increasing.Discussion and Conclusion: Although management of hypertension has rapidly improved in Korea, there is much scope for further improvement. Awareness and treatment rates remain <50% among young patients (aged <50 years) with hypertension; therefore, active management of young adults with hypertension is necessary for optimal control of blood pressure and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Reduction in the discrepancies in hypertension prevalence and management based on socioeconomic status remains challenging.