Epidemiology and Health

Original Articles

Cardiovascular disease risk disparities between immigrants and native Koreans: a population-based study in Gwangju, Korea: Jung-Ho Yang, Yerin Choi, Ran Lee, Seong Eun Kim, Kyung-Hwa Park, Seong-Woo Choi, BongKyu Sun, Kyunghak Kim, Sun-Seog Kweon; Epidemiol Health. 2025;47:e2025067. Published online December 8, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2025067

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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material: Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Korea is becoming a multiethnic society, with immigrants comprising nearly 5% of the population. Evidence on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among immigrants remains limited.
METHODS
We conducted a population-based study of 582 immigrants in Gwangju and 2,328 age-matched and gender-matched native Koreans (2022-2023). Immigrant data were obtained from direct health assessments, while native Korean data were drawn from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. CVD risk was estimated using the Framingham risk score (FRS) and pooled cohort equations (PCE). Logistic regression was employed to compare the odds of elevated risk (10-year CVD risk ≥7.5%), adjusting for socio-demographic and behavioral factors.
RESULTS
Immigrants had a higher prevalence of hypertension (37.3 vs. 16.1%), diabetes (11.5 vs. 5.6%), poor self-rated health (69.6 vs. 61.3%), and unmet medical needs (30.9 vs. 8.9%), as well as lower rates of health checkups and cancer screening (all p<0.001), compared to native Koreans. Elevated CVD risk was more frequent in immigrants (FRS, 31.4 vs. 20.8%; PCE, 33.6 vs. 22.8%). The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.47 (1.14 to 1.88) for FRS and 1.49 (1.07 to 2.08) for PCE. Disparities were greatest among women, adults ≥40 years, uninsured people, low-income groups, and migrants from Central Asia, Russia, and Africa.
CONCLUSIONS
Immigrants in Korea face substantially higher CVD risk than native Koreans, particularly within socioeconomically vulnerable subgroups. Targeted prevention and policies addressing structural barriers are urgently needed.; Summary

Korean summary
국내 거주 이민자는 한국인보다 불리한 건강 상태와 더 높은 심혈관질환 위험을 보였다. 특히 여성, 고령자, 저소득층 등 취약 집단에서 격차가 두드러졌으며, 이는 구조적·사회경제적 요인이 이민자 건강 불평등에 기여함을 보여준다. 이러한 결과는 포용적 보건의료 정책과 맞춤형 예방 전략 마련의 필요성을 시사한다.

Key Message
Immigrants in South Korea face unmet healthcare needs, such as limited screening access, low disease awareness, and undertreatment of dyslipidemia. Our study shows consistently higher cardiovascular risk among immigrants compared with native Koreans, especially among women, older adults, uninsured individuals, and Central Asian migrants. These findings underscore the epidemiological importance of structural and socioeconomic disadvantages in shaping immigrant health disparities and emphasize the need for culturally tailored interventions and inclusive health policies to achieve cardiovascular health equity.

Evaluation of the accessibility and its equity of the national public-private mix program for tuberculosis in Korea: a multilevel analysis: Hyunjin Son, Changhoon Kim; Epidemiol Health. 2023;45:e2023002. Published online December 7, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2023002

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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To examine the effect of individual and area-level characteristics on the probability of public-private mix (PPM) support (PPM coverage) for tuberculosis (TB).

METHODS

This study is a retrospective cohort design using TB reporting and treatment management data in Korea. We analyzed PPM coverage through multilevel logistic regression and empirical Bayesian estimation according to individual and area-level characteristics and their interaction.

RESULTS

Patients aged 0-29 years, women, of Korean nationality, treated at a general hospital, a one-time reporting, urban areas, and the lowest deprivation index (DI) showed higher PPM coverage. Due to the cross-level interaction, PPM coverage in the urban areas (slope=-0.048, p<0.001) had a higher level but a steeper negative deprivation gradient than in rural areas (slope= -0.015, p<0.001). For a general hospital, the PPM coverage in urban is high but more significantly decreased than in rural areas with the higher DI (urban: slope=-0.047, p<0.001; rural: slope=-0.031, p<0.001). For clinics and hospitals, the effect of DI did not appear in urban areas, but in rural areas, the higher the DI, the higher the PPM coverage with a slope of 0.046 (p<0.001) and 0.063 (p<0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The PPM program created a significant disparity in PPM coverage between urban-rural areas and type of healthcare provider according to DI. Considering the high risk of TB incidence in areas with higher DI, institutional improvement and program redesign are needed to improve accessibility and equity.

Summary

Korean summary
다수준 분석을 통해 시행하여 PPM(Public-Private Mix) 사업의 주요한 평가 지표인 PPM coverage를 접근성과 형평성 관점에서 검토하였다. PPM 사업은 전반적으로 치료지원 수준을 높이는 효과가 있었지만, 도시화수준, 박탈 수준과 치료지원기관 선택의 3원 교차수준 교호작용의 결과로 지역간 PPM coverage에 지역박탈지수에 따른 큰 기울기를 가진 격차를 만들었다. 지역박탈수준이 큰 지역의 높은 결핵 발생 위험을 고려하면 효율성과 함께 형평성 수준을 향상시킬 수 있는 제도적 개선과 프로그램의 보완이 필요하다.

Key Message
This study analyzed the effect of individual and area-level characteristics on the probability of public-private mix (PPM) coverage for tuberculosis (TB) in Korea. The PPM program created a significant disparity in PPM coverage between urban-rural areas and type of healthcare provider according to deprivation index (DI). Given the high TB risk in areas with high DI, there is a need for institutional improvement and program redesign to improve accessibility and equity.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

A structured approach to promote equity in spatial accessibility to TB services during private sector engagement
Y. Xiong, A.K. Millones, C.-C. Huang, E. Zavala-Abriojo, H. Campos, J. Jimenez, D.R. Jordan, L. Lecca, H.E. Jenkins, C.M. Yuen
IJTLD Open.2026; 3(4): 241. CrossRef
Impact of the private sector on spatial accessibility to chest radiography services in Lima, Peru
Y. Xiong, A.K. Millones, S. Farroñay, I. Torres, D. Acosta, D.R. Jordan, J. Jimenez, C. Wippel, H.E. Jenkins, L. Lecca, C.M. Yuen
IJTLD Open.2024; 1(3): 144. CrossRef

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