Sex- and Age-Specific Trends in Cardiovascular Health in Korea, 2007-2018.

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesWe illustrated sex- and age-specific temporal trends in cardiovascular health among Korean adults.

methodsFrom the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2018, we included 61,408 participants aged 20 years or older. The ideal levels of 6 components of cardiovascular health metrics were defined as never-smoking, ≥75 min/week of vigorous or ≥150 min/week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, body mass index (BMI) <23 kg/m², total cholesterol <200 mg/dL, blood pressure (BP) <120/80 mmHg, and fasting glucose <100 mg/dL. Temporal trends in the number of ideal cardiovascular health components and distribution of each component were assessed by sex and age.

resultsThe average number of ideal cardiovascular health components decreased from 3.37 in 2007-2009 to 2.86 in 2016-2018. Never smoking increased from 56.0% to 59.2%, largely contributed by young men. Ideal physical activity halved (41.4-21.3%); such decline was more pronounced in women and with older age. Ideal BMI decreased from 44.3% to 42.2%, more apparently in young and elderly men. In contrast, ideal BMI increased in middle-aged and elderly women. Ideal cholesterol decreased from 65.5% to 50.3%, profoundly in young adults and relatively greater in men. Ideal BP declined from 55.1% to 46.9%, more evidently in men. However, ideal BP discernibly increased in middle-aged women. Ideal glucose decreased from 74.6% to 66.0%, comparatively greater and earlier in men.

conclusionsThe proportion of Korean adults with ideal cardiovascular health decreased between 2007 and 2018, but the course of responsible factors differed across sex and age groups.