Lifestyles Effects on Stroke Risk in Different Regions in Korea

재가 여자 노인의 비만, 식이습관, 신체활동 정도에 관한 조사 연구-뇌졸중 예방과 관련하여

Background and purpose : Stroke is a leading cause of death in Korea. Early measures to prevent stroke are extremely important since it has no cure. Korean might have different risk factors since their dietary habits and socio-economical status differ from most western countries. However, the risk factors for stroke in Korea have not yet been identified. Moreover, the lifestyle of healthy Korean adults has not been investigated. In this study we investigate the lifestyle of healthy adults living in Seoul and rural areas and compare the lifestyles of the two. Methods : One hundred seventy one subjects were studied. Among the subjects studied, 128 were from Seoul, the other 43 were from the country area. The age of the subjects was limited to over 40 years. Blood pressure, fast blood sugar, and cholesterol were measured. The subjects' height, weight, body mass index, total body fat, skinfolds thickness of triceps, subscapular and abdomen were measured to determine obesity. Using a structured interview, we assessed : sodium intake, physical activity and exercise, consumption of vegetables, fat, fish and fruits. The results of the two groups were compared. Results : There were no statistical differences in age and education between the two groups of subjects. The mean age of the subjects were 66 years old. The subjects residing in rural areas had a higher intake of sodium(p<0.05), lower physical activity(P<0.05), and higher BMI and body fat (p<0.05) as compared to the subjects in Seoul. Subjects with hypertension were between 24% and 33% and the prevalence of hypertension was the highest when compared to the prevalence of DM or hypercholesterolemia. However, the prevalence of hypertension, DM, hypercholesterolemia, were not significantly different in these areas. Conclusion : Our results show that subjects living in rural areas eat more salty food, exercise less, and tend to be obese. The finding of this study lead to speculation that Korean living in rural areas have less information about the effects of diet on health than city dwellers do. General health and nutrition education programs aimed at the prevention of stroke and other such conditions for rural area Koreans may close the risk factor gap between rural and urban dwellers.