Purpose
This study investigated the associations of awareness of blood pressure or blood sugar levels and subjective body weight perception with weight loss attempts in overweight and obese adults. Methods For this cross-sectional, descriptive, survey-based study, data were obtained from the 2021 Community Health Survey conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The participants (N=6,571) were adult residents (≥19 years old) of northern Gyeonggi Province in Korea with body mass indexes of 23 kg/m² or greater. Results The average age of the participants was 53.11±16.56 years, with a range of 19 to 100 years. Among the participants, 73.2% responded that they had tried to maintain or lose weight in the past year. The prevalence of weight loss attempts was higher among participants with certain demographic characteristics-women (who comprised 39.2% of the study sample), younger individuals, and those with higher education levels-than among their counterparts. Conclusion Participants who were aware of their blood pressure or blood sugar levels and those with a perception of normal or obese body weight were more likely to attempt weight control than participants without these characteristics. Therefore, encouraging individuals to become aware of their blood pressure or blood sugar levels and to maintain an accurate perception of body weight may motivate them to attempt weight management.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to assess the awareness of warning signs of stroke and identify the risk factors influencing such awareness among diabetics with hypertension who are at a high risk for stroke.
METHODS
Data from the 2017 Korea Community Health Survey were used. A total of 15,536 adults older than 30 years diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes mellitus were included in the final analysis. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, χ2 test, and logistic regression with SPSS/WIN 24.0 program.
RESULTS
Among the five warning signs of stroke, “sudden trouble in speaking or understanding” (79.0%) was the most commonly identified one and “sudden severe headache with an unknown cause” (65.2%) was the least. Only 48.8% participants identified all five warning signs and 11.8% could not identify any of them. In the logistic regression model, the risk of unawareness of warning signs of stroke was significantly higher among those aged 30~49 years and 70 years or older, with a lower educational level, without a spouse, and with a heavy alcohol consumption and current smoking status.
CONCLUSION
The level of awareness of warning signs was low in hypertensive diabetic adults. To improve awareness of warning signs of stroke, a customized educational program should be provided to hypertensive diabetic adults considering the risk factors relevant to unawareness of warning signs of stroke. The education on warning signs of stroke can potentially lead to a reduction in morbidity in the survivors.

Citations

• Factors Influencing Participation in Hypertension Management Education Among Diagnosed Hypertensive Patients in Busan: Utilizing the 2021 Community Health Survey
  Hye Jung Jun, Kyoung Mi Kim
  Research in Community and Public Health Nursing.2024; 35: 424.     CrossRef
• Capsular warning syndrome and its clinical awareness and therapeutic approach: two case reports and a systematic review of the literature
  Hector R. Martínez, Jose A. Figueroa-Sanchez, Carlos A. Arreola-Aldape, Jose Alberto Moran Guerrero, Ana Luisa Trujillo-Bracho, Alejandro Cantú López
  Frontiers in Neurology.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Comparison of Stroke Knowledge, Health Beliefs, and Stroke Prevention Behavior between Early and Middle-Aged Adults
  Eun Ko
  STRESS.2022; 30(2): 98.     CrossRef
• Blood Pressure Awareness and Knowledge of Cardio-Cerebrovascular Diseases in South Korean Women with Hypertension
  Yeo Won Jeong
  Healthcare.2021; 9(3): 360.     CrossRef
• The Effect of Residence in Underserved Emergency Medical Services Areas on Awareness of Myocardial Infarction Symptoms in Korea
  Mirae Jo, Heeyoung Oh, Suk-Yong Jang
  Journal of Health Informatics and Statistics.2021; 46(1): 8.     CrossRef