A LARGE proportion of adults in the Republic are at risk of serious conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and respiratory illness, a new survey has found.
The survey was conducted during this month's bank holiday weekend. A total of 1,260 people were screened for a variety of conditions.
Some 724 people underwent cardiovascular screening and more than 38 per cent were found to have elevated total cholesterol levels. Almost half of this group required referral to their GP as a result.
Commenting on the survey, consultant cardiologist Prof Declan Sugrue said the results were unsurprising. "We have similar problems to other advanced economies because we tend to eat too much and not exercise enough. Obesity is a problem and it is inevitable that we will see an increase in associated illnesses," he said.
The survey was organised by pharmaceutical company Pfizer Healthcare Ireland at the Bloom Gardening Festival in Phoenix Park, Dublin.
The high cholesterol levels are a cause for concern, according to Pfizer, because they are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) which has been identified as the leading cause of death in the Republic. About 10,000 people die each year from CVD including coronary heart disease, stroke and other circulatory diseases.
A similar survey was also carried out at the event last year. The number of people with high blood pressure was found to have almost doubled to 21 per cent this year, compared with last year's figures. According to Pfizer, this raises the possibility that there is a significant level of undiagnosed high blood pressure among the population.
Dr John Farrell, medical director, Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, said: "The importance of getting your health checked regularly is clear, as there are many things we can do to improve our health and reduce our risk of serious diseases. In order to prevent cardiovascular disease, people should have their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels checked and know what their numbers are."
More than 100 people used the screening service for oral cancers, which involved an examination of the soft tissue inside the mouth. Oral cancer is an extremely serious condition yet many people are unaware of it. According to VHI figures, only half of all patients diagnosed with oral cancer live for more than five years, and this is largely because of late detection of the problem.
Risk factors include heavy alcohol intake and smoking, with this condition affecting men to a far greater extent than women.
Eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma were also screened for, with ophthalmologists and optometrists examining over 140 people.
Recent research commissioned by Pfizer covering seven countries found that nearly 70 per cent of people have not considered visiting an eye doctor - yet both of these eye conditions can be treated if diagnosed early enough. Last year the National Council for the Blind in Ireland registered 76 people in Ireland as blind due to glaucoma, Pfizer said.