ID :
20367
Sun, 09/21/2008 - 11:07
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http://m.oananews.org//node/20367
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Poor more vulnerable to deadly diseases: report
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- People in the low-income bracket are more likely to
suffer from cerebral vascular diseases, the No. 2 cause of death for South
Koreans, health officials here said Sunday.
Cerebral vascular diseases, including strokes and cardiac disorders such as
ischemic heart disease, are becoming a more common cause of death throughout the
country, which has increasingly adapted to more Westernized eating habits. About
12.4 trillion won (US$10.9 billion) was spent on treating such diseases in 2005.
About 22 out of every 1,000 males in the low-income bracket suffered from
ischemic heart disease in 2005, while that number fell to 17 for the
middle-income bracket, the Korea Centers for Disease Control (KCDC) said Sunday.
Low-income people are those earning less than 1 million won ($880) a month, while
those in middle-income bracket earn between 1.5 million to 3 million won.
Heart disorders were 1.6 times more common among blue-collar workers and 2.4
times more common among temporary workers and the unemployed, compared to office
workers.
Twenty-four out of every 1,000 low-income females suffered from ischemic heart
disease in 2005, falling to 19 for those in the middle-income bracket and 17 for
high-income earners.
Victims of stroke showed similar patterns, with twice as many low-income males
experiencing strokes compared to high-income males in 2005. Almost seven times as
many unemployed and temporary workers suffered from strokes compared to
white-collar workers, the report showed.
"More low-income people are under stress and have bad eating habits, while
spending less time and money on taking care of their health," a KCDC official
said.
The research, jointly conducted by the KCDC and Seoul National University Medical
School, is one of many reports indicating the link between health and income in
South Korea.
According to the National Statistical Office's report last year, life expectancy
is highest for people living in the capital Seoul, while people from less
developed regions have shorter life expectancies.
Cancer has long been the No. 1 cause of death in South Korea, followed by
cerebral vascular diseases and suicide.
SEOUL, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- People in the low-income bracket are more likely to
suffer from cerebral vascular diseases, the No. 2 cause of death for South
Koreans, health officials here said Sunday.
Cerebral vascular diseases, including strokes and cardiac disorders such as
ischemic heart disease, are becoming a more common cause of death throughout the
country, which has increasingly adapted to more Westernized eating habits. About
12.4 trillion won (US$10.9 billion) was spent on treating such diseases in 2005.
About 22 out of every 1,000 males in the low-income bracket suffered from
ischemic heart disease in 2005, while that number fell to 17 for the
middle-income bracket, the Korea Centers for Disease Control (KCDC) said Sunday.
Low-income people are those earning less than 1 million won ($880) a month, while
those in middle-income bracket earn between 1.5 million to 3 million won.
Heart disorders were 1.6 times more common among blue-collar workers and 2.4
times more common among temporary workers and the unemployed, compared to office
workers.
Twenty-four out of every 1,000 low-income females suffered from ischemic heart
disease in 2005, falling to 19 for those in the middle-income bracket and 17 for
high-income earners.
Victims of stroke showed similar patterns, with twice as many low-income males
experiencing strokes compared to high-income males in 2005. Almost seven times as
many unemployed and temporary workers suffered from strokes compared to
white-collar workers, the report showed.
"More low-income people are under stress and have bad eating habits, while
spending less time and money on taking care of their health," a KCDC official
said.
The research, jointly conducted by the KCDC and Seoul National University Medical
School, is one of many reports indicating the link between health and income in
South Korea.
According to the National Statistical Office's report last year, life expectancy
is highest for people living in the capital Seoul, while people from less
developed regions have shorter life expectancies.
Cancer has long been the No. 1 cause of death in South Korea, followed by
cerebral vascular diseases and suicide.
