One in Ten Adults Takes Medication for Diabetes, Hypertension, and Hypercholesterolemia

One in Five Adults Has Two or More Chronic Diseases
Prevalence of Multiple Chronic Diseases Nearly Doubled in 12 Years

As of the article's publication date, one in five adults in South Korea has at least two chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, or hypercholesterolemia (hyperlipidemia). The prevalence of having two or more chronic diseases has nearly doubled over the past 12 years.

Pixabay

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's report, "Current Status and Related Factors of Multiple Chronic Diseases in Adults," released on January 9, an analysis of the prevalence of multiple chronic diseases among 70,826 adults aged 19 and older, based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2024), confirmed these findings.

Multiple chronic diseases refer to having at least two of the following: hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia. As of 2024, the prevalence of a single chronic disease among Korean adults was 26.4%, a slight increase from 24.0% in 2013.

The prevalence of multiple chronic diseases (two or more) was 19.7% in 2024, a 1.7-fold increase compared to 11.5% in 2013. Among those in their 40s and 50s, 18.0%, and among those aged 60 and older, 24.0%, had both hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Other combinations included hypertension and diabetes at 7.1%, and diabetes and hypercholesterolemia at 4.9%.

Adults with all three conditions-hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia-accounted for 10.9% of the total, meaning about one in ten adults. This figure increased 1.8 times from 5.9% in 2013.

When looking at the prevalence of multiple chronic diseases by age group, the rate was only around 2% among those in their 20s and 30s, but rose to 17.3% in those in their 40s and 50s, and reached 40.8% among those aged 60 and older. For both men and women, there was a marked increase starting in their 40s. Experts interpret this as a result not only of aging but also of the accumulation of lifestyle risk factors formed during middle age.

The factors contributing to the occurrence of two or more chronic diseases included obesity, alcohol consumption, and lack of physical activity. Among those in their 40s and 50s, being obese increased the risk of developing multiple chronic diseases by 6.3 times. High-risk drinking raised the risk by 1.8 times. Among those aged 60 and older, obesity increased the risk by 3.1 times, and insufficient aerobic physical activity raised the risk by 1.3 times.

The research team stated, "The prevalence of single chronic diseases is increasing among young adults, while the prevalence of multiple chronic diseases is rising from middle age onward. In the process of developing policies and programs, it is necessary to intervene early to manage health risk factors such as obesity, alcohol consumption, and lack of physical activity among young people, and to focus on the prevention and management of multiple chronic diseases from middle age onward."