Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease Among Koreans Residing in California and Seoul

Abstract

The objectives of this study are to assess (1) the prevalence of six cardiac risk factors among California residents of Korean descent and Koreans living in Seoul, Korea; and (2) the differences in risk factors by gender, and acculturation. Participant selection used probability sampling to represent the adult populations of California and Seoul, Republic of Korea, and administered a telephone survey to 2,830 adult Korean Californians and 500 adult Koreans living in Seoul. Male gender significantly predicted tobacco use, BMI, exercise, passive smoke exposure (PSE), hypertension (Californians only), and number of risk factors. Californian residence significantly predicted higher smoking prevalence in women and lower smoking prevalence in men, higher BMI, higher fat diet, a sedentary lifestyle, and greater number of risk factors. Acculturation significantly predicted lower smoking prevalence (men only), lower prevalence of PSE exposure (women only), lower BMI (women only), more exercise, a higher fat diet, higher prevalence of hypertension, and increased number of cardiac risk factors. This comparative survey highlights the need for early cardiovascular risk reduction among Koreans living in Seoul and in California.