Factors Affecting Use of Preventive Tests for Cardiovascular Risk among Greeks

Abstract

Data from a Greek national representative sample was used to investigate socio-demographic, self-perceived health, and health risk factors that determine the use of cardiovascular preventive tests (blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose). Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were used (p < 0.05). Older age, marriage, regular family doctor and chronic diseases increased the likelihood of receiving preventive tests, whereas low education and alcohol consumption reduced the likelihood of having these tests. The effect of obesity varied. Interventions which improve the knowledge of the poorly educated and empower the preventive role of the physicians may redress the inequalities and improve the effectiveness of preventive services utilization.

Investigating Unmet Health Needs in Primary Health Care Services in a Representative Sample of the Greek Population

“…In Greece, access to health services has been investigated based on the conventional need-adjusted utilization model [18,19,20,21] and the use of unmet health care needs, as an indicator of equitable access to health services, has been studied in the context of two European surveys [22,23]. The current study is the first single survey in Greece which attempts to investigate access to health care with respect to unmet needs.…”

Consumo de álcool e risco para doença coronariana na região metropolitana de São Paulo: uma análise do Projeto GENACIS

“…In fact, the association between binge drinking and CHD death appears to meet standard causality criteria 7 . Moreover, there is evidence that alcohol consumption is also associated with non-submission to preventive cardiovascular tests 8 . Given the global epidemiological transformation towards longer life, CVD has become increasingly important to middle-income countries such as Brazil, with most of the CVD burden related to CHD 9,10 .…”

Health, healthy lifestyles and health examinations among the older people in Taiwan

“…People with more chronic diseases were more likely to undergo colorectal endoscopic examinations because they are more proactive about their health, take better care of their own health, seek more information from their doctors and are more likely to be reminded about the use of preventive care. Adults with more chronic diseases have been reported to undergo more tests for blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol than healthy adults .…”

“…Older individuals who smoked were less likely to undergo health examinations , but occasional smokers were more likely to seek medical check‐ups than nonsmokers . Heavy drinkers underwent fewer screenings for cholesterol and blood sugar levels , and female heavy drinkers underwent fewer mammography screenings, while male heavy drinkers underwent fewer prostate screenings . Older people who performed physical activities underwent more examinations than those who were not active .…”

“…Other factors related to the use of health examinations include older age, gender, ethnicity, having a spouse, having a regular doctor, higher education, better cognitive function, higher income, lower body mass index, higher social support, fewer depressive symptoms, attendance at religious services and insurance coverage .…”