title: Hypertension awareness, treatment and control rates for an Asian population: results from a national survey in Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This observational study was performed in order to determine the hypertension awareness, treatment, and control rates for the country of Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rates were determined in conjunction with a national blood pressure survey in Korea in 1990. Through cluster sampling, individuals aged > 30 in 190/146,944 districts were selected for study. Among 25,567 eligible individuals, 21,242 had measurement of blood pressure (BP) and answered a standard questionnaire. BP was recorded as the mean of two measurements with a standard mercury manometer. Hypertension was defined either as BP > or = 160/95 mm Hg or on treatment (n = 2628), or as BP > or = 140/90 mm Hg or on treatment (n = 4219). Treatment was defined as any method of BP treatment, including dietary, traditional, or medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rates for BP > or = 160/95 mm Hg or on treatment: aware 1057 (40%), treated 696 (27%), controlled 367 (14%). Rates for BP > or = 140/90 mm Hg or on treatment: aware 1069 (25%), treated 696 (16%), controlled 221 (5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypertension awareness, treatment, and control rates are relatively low in Korea. Blood-pressure control programs, including detection strategies, are needed here and worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, USA.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires