Socioeconomic disparities in prevalence, treatment, and control of hypertension in middle-aged Koreans.
BACKGROUND
We investigated socioeconomic inequalities in hypertension prevalence, treatment, and control among middle-aged Koreans.


METHODS
We 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.


RESULTS
There 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.


CONCLUSIONS
Socioeconomic 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.
Department of Family Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Sun Hwa
SH
Cha
Hye Soon
HS
Park
Hong Jun
HJ
Cho
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors