Korean Circ J.  2021 Aug;51(8):643-655. 10.4070/kcj.2021.0121.

Modifiable Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in Korea and Japan

• Arafa A
• Lee HH
• Eshak ES
• Shirai K
• Liu K
• Li J
• Anni NS
• Shim SY
• Kim HC
• Iso H

• KMID: 2519146
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2021.0121

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and a major contributor to disability worldwide. Since the majority of cardiovascular events are preventable, identification of modifiable CVD risk factors and implementation of primordial prevention strategies should be a public health priority. In this aspect, the American Heart Association declared a strategic goal to reduce total CVD mortality in the US by 20% within 10 years via eliminating 7 major CVD risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, and poor-quality diet) in 2010, and their strategy has been achieving. However, the applicability of similar metrics to prevent CVD among East Asians requires an in-depth investigation of the modifiable CVD risk factors based on national and regional evidence-based findings. Herein, this review article aims to discuss several modifiable risk factors for CVDs, using epidemiological evidence from cohort studies and nationally representative data of 2 East Asian countries: Korea and Japan.

Keyword

Risk factor; Modification; Prevention; Cardiovascular disease; Korea; Japan

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in Korea and Japan. (A) Hypertension, (B) diabetes, (C) current smoking, (D) physical inactivity, (E) obesity. Error bars indicate 95% confidence intervals.

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