# Factors Associated With Nonadherence to Hypertension Treatment Among Young Adults in Korea

## TL;DR

This study finds that many young adults in Korea with hypertension are not following treatment or lifestyle changes, with factors like smoking and low awareness playing a role.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific factors associated with nonadherence to hypertension treatment in young Korean adults using national survey data.

## Key findings

- 28.6% of young adults with hypertension were not receiving drug treatment or lifestyle modification.
- Higher nonadherence was linked to male sex, smoking, alcohol use, and low awareness of blood pressure.
- Tailored interventions are needed to improve hypertension management in this age group.

## Abstract

This study investigated hypertension management in young adults in Korea using data from the 2023 Korean Community Health Survey. We examined treatment patterns and identified factors associated with untreated cases among adults aged 20–39 years diagnosed with hypertension. Among young adults, 21.2% were receiving both drug treatment and lifestyle modification, while 28.6% were neither receiving drug treatment nor lifestyle modification. In addition, 35.5% were receiving only drug treatment, and 14.8% were practicing only lifestyle modification. The percentage of young adults who were not practicing both drug treatment and lifestyle modification was higher than that of adults aged 40 or older. These were associated with male sex (OR: 1.427, 95% CI: 1.12–1.82), BMI (OR: 0.932, 95% CI: 0.91–0.95), current smoking (OR: 1.366, 95% CI: 1.06–1.77), alcohol consumption (≤ once/week, OR: 1.654, 95% CI: 1.14–2.39; ≥ twice/week, OR: 2.484, 95% CI: 1.59–3.87), awareness of one's own blood pressure (OR: 0.194, 95% CI: 0.15–0.26), knowledge of myocardial infarction symptoms (OR: 0.779, 95% CI: 0.71–0.86), education about hypertension management (OR: 0.648, 95% CI: 0.52–0.80), and social network level (OR: 0.934, 95% CI: 0.91–0.96). These findings highlight the need for tailored interventions to improve hypertension awareness and management in young adults.