Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Prehypertension by Gender and Age in a Korean Population in the KNHANES 2010- 2012

Prehypertension frequently progresses into hypertension and is related to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We studied the prevalence of prehypertension and their determinants by gender and age. The study used nationally representative data from 11,754 participants aged 20–91 years collected between 2010–2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES). Prehypertension was more prevalent in men than women (aOR = 2.48, CI = 2.11–2.92). Aging was positively associated with prehypertension (40-59 vs. 20-39, aOR = 1.79, CI = 1.55–2.05; 60+ vs. 20-39, aOR = 2.89, CI = 2.35–3.56). In women aged ≥60, prehypertension was associated with WC (aOR = 1.04, CI = 1.00–1.07), whereas in both men and women aged 20–39, it was associated with BMI (men, aOR = 1.14, CI = 1.04–1.24; women, aOR = 1.08, CI = 1.01–1.16). In subjects aged 40–59, age (men, aOR = 1.03, CI = 1.01–1.06; women, aOR = 1.05, CI = 1.02–1.07) was the significant factor increasing the risk of prehypertension, whereas smoking (men, aOR = 0.55, CI = 0.38–0.80; women, aOR = 0.43, CI = 0.24–0.76) showed an inverse association with prehypertension. Alcohol intake showed a positive association with prehypertension in only men aged 40-59. Our findings suggest that different gender/age groups may have different patterns of risk factors associated with prehypertension. Thus, healthcare providers should consider both gender and age when designing community-based interventions for controlling BP and reducing prehypertension.