A Comparison of the Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease and Lifestyle Habits by Disability Status and Type of Disability in Korean Adults: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and lifestyle habits of cardiovascular disease (CVD) according to the type of disability in Korean adults compared to adults without disability. Methods: This study was secondary data analysis using the National Health check-up database from 2010 to 2013. Among the total 395,627 adults aged 30~80, the physically disabled (n=21,614) and the mentally disabled (n=1,448) who met the diagnosis criteria were extracted and compared with non-disabled (n=372,565) through 1:2 propensity score matching for nine characteristics. Results: Prior to matching, the prevalence of CVD was 34.4% in individuals without disabilities, accounting for 53.8% in those with physical disabilities and 22.4% in those with mental disabilities, showing significant differences between groups (p<.001). After matching, compared to the individuals without disability, those with physically disabled had significantly higher prevalence of CVD and the average number of CVD (p<.001). The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and vascular disease was significantly higher in the physically disabled (p<.05). Drinking was significantly higher in the non-disabled than in the physically and mentally disabled, and smoking was more in the non-disabled than in the mentally disabled. Physical activity was found to be significantly less in both the physically and mentally disabled than in the non-disabled (p<.01). Conclusion: It is necessary to confirm the differences in the prevalence of CVD risk factors and lifestyle according to the type of disability, suggesting the development and verification of health promotion programs including physical activity for CVD prevention in the disabled with CVD risk factors.