In adults with cardiovascular disease in South Korea, the rates of awareness and treatment of key cardiovascular risk factors were higher in women than in men, but they had lower rates of risk factor control, particularly for hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, according to research presented during the ACC Asia 2026 Together With KSC Spring Conference held in Gyeongju, South Korea, April 17-18.

Researchers analyzed data collected on adults aged ≥20 years between 2014 and 2023 from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination survey, focusing on estimated rates of awareness, treatment and control for major cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, obesity and smoking.

Results showed that men made up a larger share of participants with cardiovascular disease and had a higher average number of risk factors (1.37 vs. 0.99), although hypercholesterolemia was more frequent in women. While women had higher rates of awareness and treatment of risk factors, men being treated for both hypertension and hypercholesterolemia had higher rates of control.

Sex-based differences were observed across most management indicators over the 10-year study period.

"The message is clear: while men have more risk factors, women are less well controlled, particularly for cholesterol. Even with a similar awareness and treatment rate, women are more likely to have uncontrolled hypercholesterolemia." said Seonji Kim, PhD, from the Department of Biomedical Systems Informatics at Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul and the study's lead author. "The gap is most evident in midlife women, highlighting where targeted, sex-specific strategies are needed."

Learn more about ACC Asia 2026 Together With KSC Spring Conference, taking place April 17-18 in Gyeongju, South Korea. Plus, follow the ACC on social media and use the hashtag #ACCAsia to join the conversations.

Clinical Topics: Dyslipidemia, Prevention, Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Hypertension

Keywords: Heart Disease Risk Factors, Hypercholesterolemia, Asia, Hypertension, ACC International