"Low income and education levels, high risk of cardio-cerebrovascular disease"
Oct 24, 2024
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Using data from the 2007-2018 National Health and Nutrition Survey, the research team investigated changes in the prevalence of cardio-cerebrovascular disease according to income and education level of 47,745 economically active people aged 30 to 64.
As a result of the study, low education level and income were identified as important factors increasing the risk of cardio-cerebrovascular disease. In particular, the group with both low income and education level had a consistently higher prevalence of cardio-cerebrovascular disease compared to the group with high income and education level. This trend continued unchanged throughout the 12-year study period.
The overall prevalence of cardio-cerebrovascular disease within the study period did not change significantly despite social changes such as aging, urbanization, and increased obesity rates. This seems to have been affected by positive factors such as an increase in the participation rate in health checkups, an improvement in the treatment rate of hypertension and dyslipidemia, and a decrease in smoking rates. However, a high prevalence was still observed in the group with a low socioeconomic level.
The results of the study indicate that socioeconomic inequality is leading to health inequality, and it is expected to be used as an important basis for establishing health policies and bridging the health gap in the future.
Professor Choi Dong-hoon, who oversaw the study, said, `Even though Korean society has developed economically, the health gap according to socioeconomic level has not been resolved"This study highlights the need for policy support to reduce the risk of cardio-cerebrovascular disease in the vulnerable class"
Professor Cho Deok-gyu stressed that "low income and education levels affect health awareness and management ability as well as access to medical services" and "customized educational programs and support are needed for effective prevention and treatment."
Professor Noh Ji-woong and Bae Sung-ah, the first author, "We need to increase the accessibility of the healthcare system so that the vulnerable can properly manage high blood pressure, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, which are major risk factors for cardio-cerebrovascular disease"As this study enables an in-depth understanding of the effects of socioeconomic factors on health, we will continue to address social inequality and contribute to the promotion of public health through various studies."
The findings were recently published in the international journal 『Journal of Global Health』[IF 4.5)』.
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