Korea Hypertension Fact Sheet 2025: national trends in hypertension with a special analysis of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Abstract

Background: This report utilizes the latest national data to describe the prevalence, management status, and treatment patterns of hypertension in South Korea, with a special analysis of the growing burden of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). Methods: Two nationwide datasets were analyzed: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 1998-2023) and the National Health Insurance (NHI) Big Data (2002-2023). In KNHANES, hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure >= 140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure >= 90 mmHg, or current use of antihypertensive medication. HDP prevalence was analyzed using NHI data for childbearing women aged 15-49 years from 2005 to 2023. Results: In 2023, an estimated 12.6 million Korean adults (29% of adults aged >= 20 years) had hypertension. Management indicators continued to improve, with awareness, treatment, and control rates reaching 79%, 76%, and 62%, respectively. However, among young adults aged 20-39 years, awareness and treatment rates remained below 50% despite recent substantial gains. Healthcare utilization also increased, with 11.9 million individuals receiving hypertension-related care and 8.3 million achieving continuous treatment adherence (>= 290 days/year) in 2023. Dual therapy was the most common regimen (44%), followed by monotherapy (40%). Angiotensin receptor blockers (77%) and calcium channel blockers (62%) were the most frequently prescribed drug classes. The burden of HDP has risen markedly over time. The number of women with HDP increased from approximately 22.8 thousand in 2005 to over 30 thousand in 2023, representing a 32% increase despite a substantial decline in total births. In 2023, HDP affected 13.2% of maternity healthcare users, comprising chronic hypertension (7.2%), pregnancy-induced hypertension (4.7%), and preeclampsia/eclampsia (2.9%). Conclusions: South Korea continues to demonstrate high performance in hypertension management at the population level, with steady improvements in awareness, treatment, and control. Nevertheless, the rising absolute number of individuals with hypertension and the substantial, accelerating increase in HDP underscore the need for strengthened public health strategies. Targeted early detection and tailored management approaches are essential to improve cardiovascular, maternal, and fetal health outcomes.