A study of nearly 300,000 adults in South Korea has found that individuals who maintained higher blood pressure levels throughout their 30s faced substantially increased risks of developing heart and kidney diseases after age 40. The research, presented at the American Heart Association's EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026 in Boston, analyzed medical records from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database and revealed that sustained elevation in blood pressure during young adulthood accumulates damage over time, even when short-term risk appears low.
According to the findings, adults whose systolic blood pressure remained approximately 10 mm Hg higher than their peers for about a decade during their 30s experienced a 27% higher risk of heart disease and a 22% higher risk of kidney disease later in life. Similarly, those with diastolic blood pressure about 5 mm Hg higher than contemporaries for the same period showed a 20% increased heart disease risk and 16% higher kidney disease risk. The analysis demonstrated that participants in the highest 20% of cumulative systolic blood pressure levels were approximately 3.5 times more likely to develop heart conditions and three times more likely to develop kidney disease compared to those in the lowest 20%.
Young adults often have a very low predicted 10-year risk of heart disease, even when they have elevated or high blood pressure, said lead researcher Hokyou Lee, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA, an associate professor at Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul. Our study's findings show that blood pressure levels in early adulthood are important even if short-term risk appears low. Long-term exposure to higher blood pressure from early life may accumulate damage over time. The American Heart Association's 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics indicate that nearly half of U.S. adults live with high blood pressure, which remains the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death worldwide.
The study design involved analyzing health information for 291,887 adults who were 30 years old between 2002-2004 and received routine health screenings through age 40. Participants had no prior history of heart or kidney disease before age 40, and researchers calculated cumulative blood pressure levels accounting for both magnitude and duration of elevation. During approximately 10 years of follow-up after age 40, development of heart or kidney disease was identified through national health service records, with chronic kidney disease diagnoses confirmed by laboratory tests. The analysis adjusted for major health and lifestyle factors including sex, income, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.
Daniel W. Jones, M.D., M.A.C.P., FAHA, chair of the writing committee for the Association's Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults, noted that this study from Korea emphasizes the risk from high blood pressure begins at an early age and early in the course. The opportunity in this study to evaluate cumulative blood pressure over several years was important in understanding that risk. The American Heart Association's 2025 High Blood Pressure Guideline already recommends treatment of stage 1 hypertension in adults with low predicted 10-year cardiovascular disease risk after 3-6 months of lifestyle modification.
Researchers emphasize that these findings reinforce the importance of maintaining optimal blood pressure throughout all life stages, with early prevention, diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment serving as crucial investments in future cardiovascular and renal health. The universal healthcare system in South Korea provided standardized care for all participants, though the authors note the study represents preliminary research presented in abstract form, with findings awaiting full publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
