Trends in Blood Pressure and Prevalence of Hypertension in Korean Adults Based on the 1998-2014 KNHANES

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Authors: Tae Jong Kim ; Jae Woo Lee ; Hee Taik Kang ; Myeong Chan Cho ; Hyoung Ji Lim ; Jin Young Kim ; Jang Whan Bae ; Yong Jae Lee ; Sang Hyun Lee ; John A Linton ; Yeseul Kim

MeSH: Adult ; Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use ; Blood Pressure* / physiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension / drug therapy ; Hypertension / epidemiology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Surveys ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea / epidemiology ; Systole

Abstract: Purpose: To investigate trends in blood pressure (BP) and hypertension prevalence in Korea.

Materials and methods: Based on the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) I (1998), II (2001), III (2005), IV (2007-2009), V (2010-2012), and VI (2013-2014), 56077 participants (23974 men and 32103 women) were included.

Results: Mean systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) decreased in both sexes (male SBP: 128.1 to 120.2 mm Hg, male DBP: 82.0 to 78.5 mm Hg; female SBP: 125.7 to 116.0 mm Hg and female DBP: 77.4 to 73.2 mm Hg from the KNHANES I-VI). The age-standardized prevalence of hypertension was significantly decreased in both sexes (male; 33.3% to 30.3%, female; 28.7% to 22.7%, all p for trend <0.001). Regardless of taking anti-hypertensive medication or not, SBP and DBP declined universally in both sexes. Compared to the KNHANES I, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of the KNHANES II to VI for less-than-normotensive and less-than-hypertensive BP increased in both sexes.

Conclusion: Mean BP levels in both sexes and hypertension prevalence showed downward trends during the 16-year period.