Socio-Demographic Determinants of Cholesterol Checking Behavior in Texas

BACKGROUND:  One of the Healthy people 2020 goals aims to increase the proportion of adults (aged 18 years and older) who have had their blood cholesterol checked within the preceding 5 years from the baseline of 74.6 percent to 82.1%. Examination of socio-demographic predictors of cholesterol checking behavior can reveal opportunities for intervention in the community setting.

METHODS:  We examined the Texas BRFSS (2011) data to determine the socio-demographic predictors of cholesterol checking behavior in the preceding 5 years. Predictor variables included were age, sex, race/ ethnicity, education, marital status and insurance status.

RESULTS:  Multivariate logistic regression indicated that age, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, and insurance status could predict the outcome. The odds of reporting cholesterol checking increased with the increase of age. Hispanics were nearly 30 percent less likely (OR=0.69, 95%CI 0.52 – 0.92) to report cholesterol testing in the last five years as compared to Whites. There was no difference in odds of reporting cholesterol testing between the groups with less than high school educations and those with just high school education, however, college graduates were nearly three times (OR=2.94, 95% CI 1.97 – 4.38) likely to report cholesterol testing. Uninsured were nearly 70 percent less likely (OR=0.29, 95% CI 0.22 – 0.38) to report cholesterol test than the ones with health insurance.  

CONCLUSIONS:  Public health programs should consider age, educational attainment, race / ethnicity and insurance status when developing intervention to increase the cholesterol testing in the community settings.