J Prev Med Public Health.  2022 Nov;55(6):506-519. 10.3961/jpmph.22.264.

Effects of Marital Status and Income on Hypertension: The Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES)

• Son M
• Heo YJ
• Hyun HJ
• Kwak HJ

• KMID: 2536570
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.22.264

Abstract

Objectives
This study aimed to analyze the associations of income, marital status, and health behaviors with hypertension in male and female over 40 years of age in the Korea.
Methods
The data were derived from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES; 4851-302) which included 211 576 participants. To analyze the relationships of income, marital status, and health behaviors with hypertension in male and female over 40 years of age, multiple logistic regression was conducted with adjustments for these variables.
Results
The prevalence of hypertension increased linearly as income decreased. The odds ratio for developing hypertension in people with an income of <0.5 million Korean won (KRW) compared to ≥6.0 million KRW was 1.55 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25 to 1.93) in the total population, 1.58 (95% CI, 1.27 to 1.98) in male, and 1.07 (95% CI, 0.35 to 3.28) in female. The combined effect of income level and marital status on hypertension was significant. According to income level and marital status, in male, low income and divorce were most associated with hypertension (1.76 times; 95% CI, 1.01 to 3.08). However, in female, the low-income, married group was most associated with hypertension (1.83 times; 95% CI, 1.71 to 1.97).
Conclusions
The results of this study show that it is necessary to approach male and female marital status separately according to income in health policies to address inequalities in the prevalence of hypertension.

Keyword

Hypertension; Prevalence; Socioeconomic factor; Income; Risk factor