Characterising the extent of misreporting of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes using the Australian Health Survey
Abstract Background Measuring and monitoring the true prevalence of risk factors for chronic conditions is essential for evidence-based policy and health service planning. Understanding the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Australia relies heavily on self-report measure...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2016-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-3389-y |
| _version_ | 1818272254683774976 |
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| author | Karen Louise Peterson Jane Philippa Jacobs Steven Allender Laura Veronica Alston Melanie Nichols |
| author_facet | Karen Louise Peterson Jane Philippa Jacobs Steven Allender Laura Veronica Alston Melanie Nichols |
| author_sort | Karen Louise Peterson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Measuring and monitoring the true prevalence of risk factors for chronic conditions is essential for evidence-based policy and health service planning. Understanding the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Australia relies heavily on self-report measures from surveys, such as the triennial National Health Survey. However, international evidence suggests that self-reported data may substantially underestimate actual risk factor prevalence. This study sought to characterise the extent of misreporting in a large, nationally-representative health survey that included objective measures of clinical risk factors for CVD. Methods This study employed a cross-sectional analysis of 7269 adults aged 18 years and over who provided fasting blood samples as part of the 2011–12 Australian Health Survey. Self-reported prevalence of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes was compared to measured prevalence, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified socio-demographic characteristics associated with underreporting for each risk factor. Results Approximately 16 % of the total sample underreported high blood pressure (measured to be at high risk but didn’t report a diagnosis), 33 % underreported high cholesterol, and 1.3 % underreported diabetes. Among those measured to be at high risk, 68 % did not report a diagnosis for high blood pressure, nor did 89 % of people with high cholesterol and 29 % of people with high fasting plasma glucose. Younger age was associated with underreporting high blood pressure and high cholesterol, while lower area-level disadvantage and higher income were associated with underreporting diabetes. Conclusions Underreporting has important implications for CVD risk factor surveillance, policy planning and decisions, and clinical best-practice guidelines. This analysis highlights concerns about the reach of primary prevention efforts in certain groups and implications for patients who may be unaware of their disease risk status. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T21:39:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5970d1b565ab4372b5d2bb680b1c9504 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T21:39:09Z |
| publishDate | 2016-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-5970d1b565ab4372b5d2bb680b1c95042022-12-22T00:11:06ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582016-08-0116111110.1186/s12889-016-3389-yCharacterising the extent of misreporting of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes using the Australian Health SurveyKaren Louise Peterson0Jane Philippa Jacobs1Steven Allender2Laura Veronica Alston3Melanie Nichols4WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Faculty of Health, Deakin UniversityWHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Faculty of Health, Deakin UniversityWHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Faculty of Health, Deakin UniversityWHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Faculty of Health, Deakin UniversityWHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Faculty of Health, Deakin UniversityAbstract Background Measuring and monitoring the true prevalence of risk factors for chronic conditions is essential for evidence-based policy and health service planning. Understanding the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Australia relies heavily on self-report measures from surveys, such as the triennial National Health Survey. However, international evidence suggests that self-reported data may substantially underestimate actual risk factor prevalence. This study sought to characterise the extent of misreporting in a large, nationally-representative health survey that included objective measures of clinical risk factors for CVD. Methods This study employed a cross-sectional analysis of 7269 adults aged 18 years and over who provided fasting blood samples as part of the 2011–12 Australian Health Survey. Self-reported prevalence of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes was compared to measured prevalence, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified socio-demographic characteristics associated with underreporting for each risk factor. Results Approximately 16 % of the total sample underreported high blood pressure (measured to be at high risk but didn’t report a diagnosis), 33 % underreported high cholesterol, and 1.3 % underreported diabetes. Among those measured to be at high risk, 68 % did not report a diagnosis for high blood pressure, nor did 89 % of people with high cholesterol and 29 % of people with high fasting plasma glucose. Younger age was associated with underreporting high blood pressure and high cholesterol, while lower area-level disadvantage and higher income were associated with underreporting diabetes. Conclusions Underreporting has important implications for CVD risk factor surveillance, policy planning and decisions, and clinical best-practice guidelines. This analysis highlights concerns about the reach of primary prevention efforts in certain groups and implications for patients who may be unaware of their disease risk status.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-3389-yCardiovascular disease/epidemiologyDiabetes mellitus/epidemiologyHealth surveysHypertension/epidemiologyHypercholesterolemia/epidemiologyLogistic models |
| spellingShingle | Karen Louise Peterson Jane Philippa Jacobs Steven Allender Laura Veronica Alston Melanie Nichols Characterising the extent of misreporting of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes using the Australian Health Survey BMC Public Health Cardiovascular disease/epidemiology Diabetes mellitus/epidemiology Health surveys Hypertension/epidemiology Hypercholesterolemia/epidemiology Logistic models |
| title | Characterising the extent of misreporting of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes using the Australian Health Survey |
| title_full | Characterising the extent of misreporting of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes using the Australian Health Survey |
| title_fullStr | Characterising the extent of misreporting of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes using the Australian Health Survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterising the extent of misreporting of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes using the Australian Health Survey |
| title_short | Characterising the extent of misreporting of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes using the Australian Health Survey |
| title_sort | characterising the extent of misreporting of high blood pressure high cholesterol and diabetes using the australian health survey |
| topic | Cardiovascular disease/epidemiology Diabetes mellitus/epidemiology Health surveys Hypertension/epidemiology Hypercholesterolemia/epidemiology Logistic models |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-3389-y |
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