[Geographic Disparities in Chronic Disease Indicators in the Chungcheong Region: Analysis Based on the 2024 Korea
Objectives:
This study examined the status of health behaviors and chronic disease management indicators in the Chungcheong region using the 2024 Korea Community Health Survey. It focused on identifying regional disparities to tailor public health strategies.
Methods:
Data from 36 municipalities in Daejeon, Sejong, Chungcheongbuk-do, and Chungcheongnam-do were analyzed. Eighteen core indicators, including smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, mental health, chronic disease status, and awareness, were age and sex standardized. Regional disparities were measured using inter-municipal differences.
Results:
Among the 18 indicators, 11 improved and 7 worsened compared to the previous year. Positive changes included declines in smoking and high-risk drinking and increases in physical activity and mental health indicators. Diabetes-related indicators, including blood glucose awareness and treatment adherence also improved. However, self-reported obesity has increased, weight control efforts have declined, and awareness of blood pressure and early cardiovascular symptoms has decreased. Notably, the recognition of myocardial infarction symptoms showed a 21.5 percentage point gap between the municipalities, indicating pronounced regional inequality.
Conclusions:
Although the Chungcheong region showed favorable trends in several behavioral and clinical health indicators, meaningful disparities persist in chronic disease awareness and management. These findings underscore the need for localized health interventions and sustained efforts to close addressable gaps in cardiovascular health literacy and care.
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