Association between cardiovascular risk factors and measurements of blood pressure and cholesterol in 27 European countries in 2009

•Having had cholesterol or blood pressure tests was inversely associated with smoking.•Similar associations were found for high alcohol consumption and unhealthy diet.•Respondents with multiple risk factors were less likely to have had preventive tests.

ObjectiveTo investigate whether having multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease is associated with having had cholesterol and blood pressure measurements in the past year.MethodsCross-sectional data from the 2009 Eurobarometer survey (wave 72.3), were analysed. Self-reported data on smoking, fruit consumption, alcohol consumption and physical activity were collected from 15,287 individuals aged between 40 and 75 years from 27 European countries.ResultsHaving had a cholesterol test was inversely associated with smoking (OR = 0.85; 95% CI:0.74-0.96), high alcohol (OR = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.66-0.99) and low fruit consumption (OR = 0.83; 95% CI: 0.73-0.93), but not with sedentary lifestyle. Having had a blood pressure test was also inversely associated with smoking (OR = 0.84; 95% CI: 0.73-0.97), high alcohol (OR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.60-0.92) and low fruit consumption (OR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.64-0.84). The more risk factors reported by respondents, the less likely they were to have had a preventive test in the past year. Individuals with all four risk factors were less likely to have had their cholesterol (OR = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.26-0.68) and blood pressure (OR = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.27-0.75) measured compared to individuals with no risk factors.ConclusionsScreening strategies in Europe need to be revised, as Europeans at the highest risk for cardiovascular diseases were the least likely to have received cholesterol or blood pressure tests.