As a result of analyzing the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2007 to 2018, it was found that the group with both low education level and income (Group 4) had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease than the group with both high education level and income (Group 1). Provided by Yongin Severance Hospital
A study showed that the lower the income and education level, the higher the risk of cardiovascular disease, and that this socioeconomic gap has become more severe in recent years than in the past. The researchers pointed out that policy support is needed to address health inequalities.
The research team of Professors Jo Deok-gyu, Noh Ji-woong, and Bae Seong-ah of the Department of Cardiology at Yongin Severance Hospital, and Professor Dong-hoon Choi of the Department of Cardiology at Severance Hospital published a study analyzing the impact of socioeconomic level on the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases in the international academic journal ‘Journal of Global Health’. It was announced on the 24th that it was published in . The researchers used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 to 2018 to investigate changes in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease according to income and education level of 47,745 economically active people between the ages of 30 and 64.
As a result of the study, low income and education level were confirmed to be important factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. In particular, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease was consistently higher in groups with both low income and education levels over the 12 years of the study than in groups with high levels of both, and the gap widened over time. From 2007 to 2010, the prevalence of the disease in the group with both high income and education levels was 1.2%, while the prevalence in the group with both low income and education levels was 6.3%. The difference in prevalence between the two groups was 5.1 percentage points, but from 2015 to 2018, it was 1.3% and 1.3%, respectively. It recorded 6.7%, widening the gap to 5.4 percentage points.
When comparing the effects of the two factors, education level had a greater influence on the increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease than income. The prevalence was highest in the group with both low education and income, followed by the group with low education and high income, the group with high education and low income, and the group with both high education and income. This ranking remained unchanged throughout the study period.
During the study period, the overall prevalence of cardiovascular disease did not show significant changes despite social changes such as aging, urbanization, and increased obesity rates. The researchers analyzed these results as being influenced by positive factors such as increased participation in health checkups, improved treatment rates for hypertension and dyslipidemia, and decreased smoking rates. However, high prevalence rates persisted in groups with low socioeconomic status, suggesting that socioeconomic inequality is leading to health inequality.
The researchers pointed out that related health policies need to be established to eliminate the health gaps identified in this study. Professor Choi Dong-hoon said, “Despite the economic development of Korean society, the health gap according to socioeconomic level has not been resolved. This study emphasizes the need for policy support to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in vulnerable groups.” revealed. Professor Cho Deok-gyu also said, “Low income and education level affect not only access to medical services but also health awareness and management ability, so customized education programs and support are needed for effective prevention and treatment.”
