Trends in the prevalence of major cardiovascular disease risk factors among Korean adults: Results from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1998–2012

• Published in: International journal of cardiology 2014-06, Vol.174 (1), p.64-72
• Main Authors: Kim, Hyun Ja, Kim, Yuna, Cho, Yumi, Jun, Byungyool, Oh, Kyung Won
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus - epidemiology; Female; Heart; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Hypercholesterolemia - epidemiology; Hypertension; Hypertension - epidemiology; Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Middle Aged; Nutrition Surveys; Obesity; Obesity - epidemiology; Prevalence; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Risk Factors; Smoking; Smoking - epidemiology; Time Factors; Tobacco, tobacco smoking; Toxicology
• ISSN: 0167-5273; 1874-1754
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2014.03.163

Abstract Background Mortality from coronary heart disease in Korea has increased continuously, but there are few comprehensive national data on trend in the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in this population. We examined the trends in the prevalence of major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including smoking, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia, from 1998 through 2012 in a representative Korean population. Methods Using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I (1998) to V (2010–2012), we selected the adults aged ≥ 30 yr who participated in both a health examination and health interview survey. Results From 1998 to 2012, significant decrease in the prevalence of hypertension was observed in both men (32.5 to 31.5%) and women (26.9 to 24.3%). Smoking rates decreased only in men (65.1 to 47.0%), whereas the prevalence of diabetes did not change over time. Conversely, the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia significantly increased from 7.2% to 12.6% for men and from 8.4% to 14.9% for women, whereas the rates of awareness and treatment for hypercholesterolemia were relatively lower than that of hypertension and diabetes. During the period, prevalence of obesity significantly increased from 26.8% to 38.1% only in men. Conclusions The increased prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and obesity may have contributed to the increasing trend in the mortality from coronary heart disease in Korea. Further population-based surveillance of blood cholesterol levels and obesity needs to be performed, and national strategies for improvement of these factors should be established in Korea.