Division of Health Administration, Gwangju University, Gwangju, South Korea.
Department of Health Care Management, Catholic University of Pusan, Busan, South Korea.
Popul Health Manag. 2022 Jun;25(3):407-412. doi: 10.1089/pop.2021.0196. Epub 2021 Dec 6.
Hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia have become prevalent in young adults. Health care utilization is a key factor in managing early onset chronic diseases. This study aimed to examine the factors affecting health care utilization among young South Korean adults with a single chronic disease. From the Korea Health Panel Survey data collected between 2014 and 2017, young adults who were 30-49 years old and diagnosed with a single chronic condition (hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia) were included in this study ( = 993). The factors affecting health care utilization were analyzed through multiple logistic regression. The health care utilization rate of the 40-49 and 30-39-year age groups was 84.2% and 71.1%, respectively, and it was significantly higher in the healthy behavior group, who had no smoking and drinking habits and joined in physical activities. Among the chronic diseases, hyperlipidemia obtained the lowest health care utilization rate (62.8%). From the multiple logistic regression analysis, medication intake was likely to increase in the older, unemployed, and healthy behavior groups. Patients with hypertension and diabetes were more likely to use health care services than those with hyperlipidemia. Given the rising prevalence of chronic diseases among young adults, these findings may be helpful in implementing new public health approaches for this type of population by encouraging proper health care utilization.
高血压、糖尿病和高血脂在年轻人中变得普遍。医疗保健的利用是管理早发性慢性疾病的关键因素。本研究旨在探讨影响患有单一慢性疾病的年轻韩国成年人医疗保健利用的因素。本研究纳入了 2014 年至 2017 年期间韩国健康面板调查数据中 30-49 岁被诊断为单一慢性疾病（高血压、糖尿病或高血脂）的成年人（ = 993）。通过多因素逻辑回归分析影响医疗保健利用的因素。40-49 岁和 30-39 岁年龄组的医疗保健利用率分别为 84.2%和 71.1%，在没有吸烟和饮酒习惯且参加体育活动的健康行为组中，这一比例显著更高。在慢性病中，高血脂的医疗保健利用率最低（62.8%）。从多因素逻辑回归分析来看，老年人、失业者和健康行为者更有可能服用药物。高血压和糖尿病患者比高血脂患者更有可能使用医疗保健服务。鉴于年轻人中慢性病的患病率不断上升，这些发现可能有助于通过鼓励适当的医疗保健利用，为这一人群实施新的公共卫生方法。
