Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors among Korean Adults

Abstract

Background/Aims: The prevalence of cardiovascular disease among women is lower than that among men in middle age, but increases after middle age. This study was performed to compare the risk factors for cardiovascular disease according to sex in Koreans adults.Methods: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for the 5th, 6th, and 7th years (2010–2017) were analyzed. This study examined the risk factors for cardiovascular disease among adults. From the total of 41,386 patients, 11,529 patients were selected.Results: The overall prevalence of cardiovascular disease in Korean adults was 27.9%, and the prevalence was higher in women than in men (55.3% vs. 44.7%, respectively, p < 0.001). Women with cardiovascular disease were older than men (66.6 ± 9.9 years vs. 63.9 ± 11.1 years, respectively, p < 0.001). The prevalence of cardiovascular disease was higher in women with comorbid depression and rheumatoid arthritis and higher in men with diabetes mellitus. Multivariate regression analysis showed that stress (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.28–4.17, p = 0.005) and smoking (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.04–2.48, p = 0.031) were independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease in men, while depression (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.22–3.39, p = 0.007), low education level, rheumatoid arthritis, and poor subjective health status (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.20–2.41, p = 0.003) were independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women.Conclusions: Differences were detected in cardiovascular risk factors according to sex in Korea. The most important risk factors were smoking and stress in men, and depression, low education level, rheumatoid arthritis, and poor subjective health status in women.