The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Proportion of People Diagnosed with Hypertension among Daegu Citizens

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Objectives: Daegu Metropolitan City was a region that experienced the pandemic in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the rate of physical activity practice decreased significantly compared with other metropolitan cities in 2020. In 2023, when it transitioned to an endemic, the proportion of people diagnosed with hypertension (standardized) increased the most among metropolitan cities. Methods: Using data from the Community Health Survey in Daegu, we examined changes in the proportion of people diagnosed with hypertension before and after the COVID-19 pandemic and changes according to sociodemographic characteristics. Results: The proportion of people diagnosed with hypertension, adjusted for gender, age, obesity, income, and occupation, was not different in 2019 and 2020 compared to 2018, and was likely to be higher in 2021, 2022, and 2023. The proportion of people diagnosed with hypertension was higher among men and women, ages in the 30s, 40s, and 50s, and income level in the 2 million won, 3 million won, and 4 million won and occupation in simple labor, others (students, housewives, unemployed) after the COVID-19 outbreak (2019-2023) than before the COVID-19 outbreak (2015-2019). In particular, there was a significant increase among women, 30s, 3 million won, and those in simple labor.Conclusions: In this study, the proportion of people diagnosed with hypertension increased significantly compared to before the outbreak of COVID-19, not only in vulnerable groups but also in younger age groups and high-income groups. In the physical activity aspect alone, the reason is interpreted as the result of the discontinuation of intense exercise, which can prevent hypertension by stimulating the cardiovascular system. Therefore, public health intervention is needed for vulnerable groups and maintain an intensity of exercise that can prevent hypertension. There is also a need to prepare to prevent a pandemic of chronic diseases from being caused by new infectious diseases.