TY - JOUR
T1 - Educational inequalities in blood pressure and cholesterol screening in nine European countries
AU - Rodin, Danielle
AU - Stirbu, Irina
AU - Ekholm, Ola
AU - Dzurova, Dagmar
AU - Costa, Giuseppe
AU - Mackenbach, Johan P.
AU - Kunst, Anton E.
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Background To perform the first European overview of educational inequalities in the use of blood pressure and cholesterol screening. Methods Data were obtained on the use of screening services according to educational level from nationally representative cross-sectional surveys in Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Latvia and Lithuania. Screening rates were examined in the preceding 12 months and 5 years, for respondents 35+ years (45+ for women). ORs comparing low-to high-educated respondents were estimated using logistic regression controlling for age. Results Inequalities in cholesterol screening favouring higher socioeconomic groups were demonstrated with statistical significance among men in four countries, whereby men with higher education were more likely to receive screening, with 1.22 as the highest OR. Among women, a similar pattern was found. Inequalities in blood pressure screening were even smaller and less often statistically significant. Hungary was the only country with higher rates of both types of screening in the low-educated group. In other countries, pro-high inequalities were slightly increased after controlling for self-rated health. Conclusions All European countries in this study had small educational inequalities in the utilisation of blood pressure and cholesterol screening. These inequalities are smaller than those previously observed in the USA. Further comparative studies need to distinguish between screening for preventive purposes and screening for treatment and control
AB - Background To perform the first European overview of educational inequalities in the use of blood pressure and cholesterol screening. Methods Data were obtained on the use of screening services according to educational level from nationally representative cross-sectional surveys in Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Latvia and Lithuania. Screening rates were examined in the preceding 12 months and 5 years, for respondents 35+ years (45+ for women). ORs comparing low-to high-educated respondents were estimated using logistic regression controlling for age. Results Inequalities in cholesterol screening favouring higher socioeconomic groups were demonstrated with statistical significance among men in four countries, whereby men with higher education were more likely to receive screening, with 1.22 as the highest OR. Among women, a similar pattern was found. Inequalities in blood pressure screening were even smaller and less often statistically significant. Hungary was the only country with higher rates of both types of screening in the low-educated group. In other countries, pro-high inequalities were slightly increased after controlling for self-rated health. Conclusions All European countries in this study had small educational inequalities in the utilisation of blood pressure and cholesterol screening. These inequalities are smaller than those previously observed in the USA. Further comparative studies need to distinguish between screening for preventive purposes and screening for treatment and control
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2011-200273
DO - https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2011-200273
M3 - Article
C2 - 22245720
SN - 0143-005X
VL - 66
SP - 1050
EP - 1055
JO - Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
JF - Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
IS - 11
ER -