The number of heart attack cases in South Korea jumped by 50% over the past decade. (Image courtesy of Pixabay)
SEOUL, Apr. 30 (Korea Bizwire) – The number of heart attack cases in South Korea jumped by 50% over the past decade, largely fueled by the nation’s rapidly aging demographics, government data showed on Sunday, underscoring the need for greater awareness about preventing and promptly treating cardiovascular diseases.
An analysis by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency revealed there were 34,612 cases of acute myocardial infarction, or heart attacks, in 2021, up from 22,398 in 2011.
The condition occurs when a blood clot suddenly blocks one of the coronary arteries supplying the heart muscle, causing it to become starved of oxygen and potentially triggering cardiac arrest. Early symptoms include severe chest pain or pressure, jaw or back discomfort, shortness of breath and pain in the arms or shoulders.
The heart attack incidence rate stood at 67.4 per 100,000 people in 2021, with men at 99.4 cases and women at 35.6 per 100,000. The 80-and-over age group had the highest rate of 340.8 per 100,000.
The case fatality rate — deaths within one year of a heart attack — was 16% in 2021, markedly higher for women at 24.1% versus 13.1% for men. The one-year death rate climbed sharply with age, reaching 37.5% for those 80 and above.
The number of stroke cases also increased over the 10-year period, rising by 9,412 to 108,950 in 2021 from 99,538 in 2011.
While strokes affected more men at a rate of 238 per 100,000 compared to 186.6 for women, the overall case fatality rate was 3.3 percentage points higher for women at 21.1%, versus 17.8% for men.
The oldest age bracket of 80 and up showed the highest stroke incidence at 1,508.4 per 100,000, as well as the worst one-year survival odds at 35.1%.
“Heart attacks and strokes are severe conditions that can lead to death without prompt diagnosis and proper treatment,” the KDCA said, adding that the new statistical data will inform future public health policies targeting cardiovascular diseases.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
