The European Health Examination Survey (Ehes) - Joint Action was launched in 2009. The aim was to conduct a pilot study in order to implement a surveillance system on the health status of the European adult population through the direct examination of population samples (Health Examination Surveys) in the EU. The survey, conducted between 2009 and 2012 in 12 countries, was based on the examination of a sample of 200 people aged 25-64 years for each country. A questionnaire was administered to the examined persons (age, sex, socio-economic status, habits and health status), physical measurements (weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure) and a blood test (total and HDL cholesterol, fasting blood glucose). In Italy, Ehes pilot study was conducted the in 2011, as part of the Oec/Hes 2008-2012 survey in Turin and Noale (Venezia), enrolling in both centres a sample of 200 people aged 25-64 years, stratified by age and sex. A total of 393 people were examined. In addition to the examinations required by Ehes, all the examinations required for the Oec/Hes survey were carried out.

 

The study continued as a longitudinal study with follow-up of total and cause mortality and fatal and non-fatal coronary and cerebrovascular events validated with MONICA diagnostic criteria.

• Population sample: 2 cohorts enlisted in two municipalities in Northern Italy, 188 men and 205 women aged 25-64 years.
• Base line (year): 2011.
• Collection of biological samples (year): 2011.
• Data collected at base line: socio-demographic characteristics (age, sex, level of education, occupation, marital status, economic status); lifestyles (smoking habit, eating habits and frequency of food consumption, physical activity); risk factors (blood pressure, heart rate, ECG read according to Minnesota code, body mass index, waist and hip circumference, total and HDL cholesterol, , triglyceridemia, glycemia, urine sodium and potassium excretion, respiratory function, bone densitometry); drugs; history of cardiovascular diseases (previous myocardial infarction, stroke, angina pectoris, intermittens claudication, atrial fibrillation, left ventricular hypertrophy, previous aortocoronary bypass surgery or revascularization, transient ischemic attack - TIA).
• Biological samples: N=393, serum, plasma, buffy coat, hematuria, 24-hour urine.
• Follow-up data: not yet available.

 

Publications:

• Tolonen H, Mäki-Opas J, Mindell JS, Trichopoulou A, Naska A, Männistö S, Giampaoli S, Kuulasmaa K, Koponen P, EHES Pilot Project. Standardization of physical measurements in European health examination surveys - experiences from the site visits. European journal of public health 2017;27:886-891.
• Tolonen H, Giampaoli S, Kuulasmaa K, Mindell JS, Mannisto S, Dias CM, Koponen P, for the EHES Pilot Project. Blood pressure profiles, and awareness and treatment of hypertension in Europe – results from the EHES Pilot Project. Public Health 2016;135:135-9.
• Mindell JS, Giampaoli S, Goesswald A , Kamtsiuris P, Mann C, Männistö S, Morgan K, Shelton NJ, Verschuren WM, Tolonen H e a nome de HES Response Rate Group. Sample selection, recruitment and participation rates in health examination surveys in Europe – experience from seven national surveys. BMC Medical Research Methodology 2015;15:78.
• Tolonen H, Ahonen S, Jentoft S, Kuulasmaa K, Heldal J; European Health Examination Survery Pilot Project. Differences in participation rates and lessons learned about recruitment of participants - the European Health Examination Survey Pilot Project. Scand J Public Health 2015;43:212-9.
• Tolonen H, Koponen P, Mindell JS, Männistö S, Giampaoli S, Dias CM, Tuovinen T, Göβwald A, Kuulasmaa K. Under-estimation of obesity, hypertension and high cholesterol by self-reported data: comparison of self-reported information and objective measures from health examination surveys. European Health Examination Survey Pilot Project. Eur J Public Health 2014;24:941-8.
• Kuulasmaa K , Tolonen H, Koponen P, Kilpeläinen K, Avdicová M, Broda G, Calleja N, Dias C, Gösswald A, Kubinova R, Mindell J, Männistö S, Palmieri L, Tell GS, Trichopoulou A, Verschuren WM. An overview of the European Health Examination Survey pilot Joint Action.. Archives of Public Health 2012;70:20.