A Eurobarometer survey published this week reveals that the vast majority of Europeans do not undergo colorectal cancer or prostate tests despite being aware of the importance of preventive medical checkups.

The survey, Health in the European Union, marked the European Prostate Awareness Day (14 September). It indicated that only 13 per cent of European men took the Prostate Specific Antigen Tests and only eight per cent of all respondents from the EU-27 took the colorectal cancer.

The Germans seem to take colorectal cancer most seriously as 19 per cent of those surveyed said that they underwent tests during the last year, 10 per cent of them on their own initiative. But the EU average is a mere eight per cent and only three per cent go on their own initiative. High figures were also noted in Austria (17 per cent) while the Cypriots are the least concerned with just one per cent taking tests. Low figures were also seen in Slovenia, Romania and Croatia (all two per cent).

Malta’s figure is also on the lower side. Out of 500 respondents, only four per cent said that they underwent colorectal cancer testing and out of these, only one per cent went on their own initiative.

Prostate tests are also less common. The EU average rate over the last year is in fact just two per cent. The higher rate was observed in Austria where 12 per cent of the males surveyed said they received the test as part of a national screening programme. Overall, 28 per cent of Austrian men take the test annually, compared to 13 per cent at EU level. High figures were also registered in Germany (21 per cent), although only two per cent had this as part of a screening programme. The lowest figures were noted in Bulgaria and Romania (three per cent) as well as Estonia (four per cent).

Malta’s rate as regards prostate testing stands at 10 per cent with four per cent doing it on their own initiative, three per cent on their doctor’s initiative and a further three per cent as part of a screening programme.

Notwithstanding these low figures, overall the survey shows that in general, Europeans are aware of the importance of preventive check-ups. More than six in every 10 (62 per cent) respondents in the EU in fact carry out dental tests each year and almost four out of 10 or 35 per cent undergo an eye test every year. Another 16 per cent said that they underwent a hearing test in the last year which shows an increase of four per cent since the last survey in 2003. For other more specific tests, the survey shows that a high percentage take X-ray, ultrasound or other scans each year. This is a rise of five percentage points since 2003 (from 33 per cent to 38 per cent), with the impetus for the rise coming from more referrals by doctors.

There are encouraging signs also for women where 43 per cent underwent a manual breast examination. The rates however vary significantly between member states with examinations being more frequent among the better educated and employed women.

The rate of dental check-ups in Malta stands at 58 per cent which more or less fares well within the EU average. That of eye tests is also good at 39 per cent. But the rate of hearing tests is the lowest in the EU-27 (together with Ireland) with a mere eight per cent of the Maltese respondents saying that they underwent hearing tests or check-ups in the last 12 months. Malta’s rate of x-ray, ultrasound and other scans is also on the lower side, compared with the rest with just 34 per cent undergoing such tests.

When it comes to blood pressure tests, these are considerably more common among the oldest segment of the population. In fact, of respondents aged 55 or over, almost eight out of every 10 (79 per cent) underwent the test. This is over two times higher than the proportion of respondents aged between 15 and 24 years(36 per cent). The survey also demonstrates that more women than men take a blood pressure test each year with 62 per cent against 55 per cent. Blood pressure tests in Malta are the most common check-up. Some 64 per cent of the 500 respondents in fact replied that they underwent a blood pressure test during the last year with some 40 per cent of these doing it on their own initiative. The EU average of annual blood pressure tests stands at 59 per cent.

Cholesterol testing is also on the increase in the EU with almost four out of 10 (38 per cent) saying they underwent a cholesterol test. This represents an increase of 29 per cent since 2003. The rate in Malta is equal to the EU average at 38 per cent.

Health checks however are considerably lower across the EU-27 with just over 27 per cent undergoing this check up. The rate in Malta is further lower at 23 per cent.

All in all however, most Europeans consider themselves to be in a good state of health. In fact, 73 per cent of the respondents said that their health is either very good or good. Only seven per cent said that their health is bad or very bad. However, it is worth pointing out that within this figure, we do see some evidence of health inequalities with twice as many of the least educated group (14 per cent) saying they have a bad health.

In Malta, 75 per cent of the respondents feel good or very good about their health status.

Commenting on these findings, Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said that despite that overall Europeans seem to be getting more aware of preventive check-ups, there is more room for improvement particularly in more awareness about prostate and colorectal cancer because the data is alarming.

A Commission Communica-tion on Cancer in fact, will be submitted to the member states in 2008 with proposals on how to address this situation.

More information is available from Forum Malta fl-Ewropa, tel. 2590-9101 or email: [email protected]

Ronald Mizzi is Research Analyst, Forum Malta fl-Ewropa

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