Young hypertension cases rise 68% in South Korea; single men in their 30s most at risk

The number of young hypertension patients in South Korea has surged by 68% over the past nine years, with single-person households identified as particularly vulnerable. The study, based on national health insurance data from 2015 to 2023, revealed a significant increase in hypertension prevalence among young adults.

According to the report by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, the prevalence of hypertension among young people rose from 10.7 per 1,000 individuals in 2015 to 18 per 1,000 in 2023. The research, conducted by a team from Chungnam National University, analyzed data from the National Health Insurance Service and the 2024 Community Health Survey.

Young adults living alone showed a higher prevalence of hypertension compared to those in multi-person households. In 2023, the rate for single young adults was 22.8 per 1,000, compared to 16.7 per 1,000 for those in multi-person households. This gap widened over the years. Furthermore, individuals in their 30s were more likely to have hypertension than those in their 20s. In 2023, the rate for single males in their 30s was 39.4 per 1,000, significantly higher than the 6.8 per 1,000 for single individuals in their 20s. The rate for males in multi-person households in their 30s was 26.5 per 1,000, compared to 6.1 per 1,000 for those in their 20s.

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The rise in prevalence was steeper for single-person households. In particular, single males in their 30s are the main high-risk group and core vulnerable population for hypertension management among young adults.

Men were significantly more affected than women. Among single young men, hypertension affected 33.3 per 1,000 individuals, while for single young women, it was 9 per 1,000. In multi-person households, the rates were 24.6 per 1,000 for men and 8.6 per 1,000 for women.

Researchers pointed to lifestyle factors as major contributors to hypertension in younger populations, unlike older adults where vascular elasticity declines. For single individuals, alcohol consumption and stress were identified as key risk factors. Obesity also plays a significant role, with obesity rates reaching 39.9% for men in their 20s and 53.1% for men in their 30s. The study highlighted that the management of hypertension in young people is often overlooked, with lower treatment rates compared to other age groups. The researchers recommended prioritizing single-person households in hypertension prevention and management policies and developing differentiated strategies for chronic disease management based on household type.

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Young adult hypertension has a significantly lower treatment rate than other age groups, indicating a large management gap. When establishing management and prevention policies, single-person households should be prioritized. Furthermore, differentiated youth chronic disease intervention policies are needed based on household type.