Social Science & Medicine · Jun 28, 2025

Socioeconomic disparities in hypertension and diabetes among older adults in South Korea: a trend analysis from a national survey, 2011-2023

By Choi B, Choi J, Lee J et al.

OBJECTIVE: With global populations aging rapidly, South Korea entered a super-aged society in 2024, accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases among older adults. The study examined hypertension and diabetes prevalence among older adults in South Korea and analyzed health disparities by socioeconomic status (SES). METHOD: Using National Survey of Older Koreans, conducted in 2011, 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2023, we analyzed diagnosed hypertension and diabetes in individuals aged 65 and older. Based on income and education levels, socioeconomic disparities by gender were assessed using Poisson regression models, prevalence ratios and 95 % confidence intervals. Socioeconomic inequalities were measured using the Slope Index of Inequality (SII) for absolute disparities and the Relative Index of Inequality (RII) for relative disparities. RESULTS: Between 2011 and 2023, the prevalences of hypertension and diabetes increased among older adults (Hypertension 54.4% to 59.6%, Diabetes 20.3% to 27.2), accompanied by widening socioeconomic disparities. For hypertension, both SII and RII by education and income grew over time, particularly among women (education-related RII: 1.001 to 2.002; income-related RII: 1.050 to 1.447). Similar trends were observed among men. For diabetes, disparities by education worsened until 2020 and slightly declined by 2023 among women. Among men, income- and education-related inequalities reversed in direction, with RII shifting from 0.833 to 1.257 (income) and from 0.582 to 1.514 (education), indicating growing disadvantage among lower socioeconomic groups. CONCLUSION: Hypertension and diabetes decreased among high-SES groups, while gaps widened among low-SES groups, especially older women. These findings underscore the need for equity-focused health policies.

doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118350PubMed 40614590Populations