It found that the number of young people with hypertension has been increasing every year. In particular, young adults living alone have a higher prevalence of hypertension than those in multi-person households, suggesting the need for caution and management.
According to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs on the 5th, an analysis by research teams from the Daejeon Public Healthcare Support Group and Chungnam National University using 2015–2023 data from the National Health Insurance Service found that the total number of young people with hypertension rose from 10.7 per 1,000 people in 2015 to 18.0 in 2023.
Among young people in multi-person households, the number of patients with hypertension increased from 10.1 per 1,000 to 16.7 over the same period. Among young people living alone, it rose from 14.6 per 1,000 to 22.8 over the same period.
The research team said that during the analysis period, young adults with hypertension in single-person households consistently had a higher prevalence than those in multi-person households and increased at a relatively steeper rate.
There were gender differences as well. As of 2023, the number of young men living alone with hypertension was 33.3 per 1,000, 35.4% higher than among those in multi-person households (24.6). However, among women, there was no clear difference between single-person households (9.0) and multi-person households (8.6).
Prevalence increased with age. Among people in their 20s, the figures were 6.8 per 1,000 for those living alone and 6.1 for those in multi-person households, but among people in their 30s, they were much higher at 39.4 and 26.5, respectively. Men in their 30s living alone are thus a high-risk group for hypertension among young adults and a key vulnerable group requiring intensive intervention.
Analyzing hypertension-related factors, the research team found that among single-person households, men were 3.10 times as likely as women to have hypertension, and those in their 30s were 2.17 times as likely as those in their 20s. In addition, those in the high-risk drinking group were 1.70 times more likely to have hypertension than nondrinkers.
The research team said, "When formulating chronic disease prevention policies for young adults, single-person households should be considered a priority target," adding, "When managing hypertension among young adults, we should take a tailored approach that reflects the characteristics of each household type."