Abstract
BackgroundWe investigated socioeconomic inequalities in hypertension prevalence, treatment, and control among middle-aged Koreans.MethodsWe analyzed data from 4275 adults aged between 40 and 64 years who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007 and 2008. Education, income, and occupational level were evaluated to assess the relationship of socioeconomic status with hypertension prevalence, treatment, and control.ResultsThere were significant differences in socioeconomic status among individuals with no hypertension, controlled hypertension, and uncontrolled hypertension in both sexes. In multiple logistic regression models, as compared with men who had more than 12 years of education, those with 7 to 12 years and less than 7 years of education had odds ratios (ORs) for untreated hypertension of 2.14 (95% CI: 1.18 to 3.90) and 2.98 (95% CI: 1.42 to 6.28), respectively (P for trend <0.05). As compared with women who had more than 12 years of education, those with 7 to 12 years and less than 7 years of education had ORs for hypertension prevalence of 1.75 (95% CI: 1.10 to 2.78) and 1.88 (95% CI: 1.12 to 3.16), respectively (P for trend <0.05). Women who worked as manual labors had an OR for uncontrolled hypertension of 1.50 (95% CI: 1.02 to 2.22) as compared with women in other jobs. There was no statistically significant association between income level and hypertension control.ConclusionsSocioeconomic status was independently associated with hypertension prevalence and care, which suggests a need for health policy efforts to reduce the socioeconomic disparity in hypertension management.
Highlights
Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease
The prevalence of hypertension was calculated for the total study population, and the rates of untreated and uncontrolled were calculated among hypertensives
socioeconomic status (SES) is thought to be an important factor in hypertension care, few studies have investigated socioeconomic disparities in hypertension care in Asian countries
Summary
Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Globally, 54% of stroke and 47% of ischemic heart disease are attributable to high blood pressure.[1]. Low socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with high blood pressure and its related cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality.[2,3,4] Some studies reported that hypertension was the primary reason for socioeconomic inequality in mortality. We investigated socioeconomic inequalities in hypertension prevalence, treatment, and control among middle-aged Koreans. Income, and occupational level were evaluated to assess the relationship of socioeconomic status with hypertension prevalence, treatment, and control. As compared with women who had more than 12 years of education, those with 7 to 12 years and less than 7 years of education had ORs for hypertension prevalence of 1.75 (95% CI: 1.10 to 2.78) and 1.88 (95% CI: 1.12 to 3.16), respectively (P for trend
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