title: The distribution and frequency of blood lipid testing by sociodemographic status among adults in Auckland, New Zealand.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  National cardiovascular disease (CVD) guidelines recommend that adults have cholesterol levels monitored regularly. However, little is known about the extent and equity of cholesterol testing in New Zealand.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the distribution and frequency of blood lipid testing by sociodemographic status in Auckland, New Zealand.
  
  
  METHODS
  We anonymously linked five national health datasets (primary care enrolment, laboratory tests, pharmaceuticals, hospitalisations and mortality) to identify adults aged ≥25 years without CVD or diabetes who had their lipids tested in 2006-2010, by age, gender, ethnicity and area of residence and deprivation. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the likelihood of testing associated with these factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 627 907 eligible adults, 66.3% had at least one test between 2006 and 2010. Annual testing increased from 24.7% in 2006 to 35.1% in 2010. Testing increased with age similarly for men and women. Indian people were 87% more likely than New Zealand European and Others (NZEO) to be tested, Pacific people 8% more likely, but rates for Maori were similar to NZEO. There was marked variation within the region, with residents of the most deprived areas less likely to be tested than residents in least deprived areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding differences within and between population groups supports the development of targeted strategies for better service utilisation. While lipid testing has increased, sociodemographic variations persist by place of residence, and deprivation. Of the high CVD risk populations, lipid testing for Maori and Pacific is not being conducted according to need.
authors.affiliation: Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, PB 92019 Auckland, New Zealand. d.exeter@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Exeter
authors.affiliation: Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, PB 92019 Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.affiliation: Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, PB 92019 Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jinfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: LabPLUS, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, and Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Cam
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kyle
authors.affiliation: Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, PB 92019 Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Riddell
authors.affiliation: Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, PB 92019 Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Rod
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, PB 92019 Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wells
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids