ZAGREB, 8 April (Hina) - The Health Ministry said that 73% of citizens responded to preventive health check-ups, and that among two-thirds of those examined, risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases were detected.

The results were presented on World Health Day. The screenings, which began on 11 November, were carried out on national level and they targeted 7,411 individuals over 40 who had not visited their family doctor for over two years.

Health Minister Irena Hrstić said 75% of those examined showed certain risk factors, 30% had high blood pressure, 19% had elevated blood sugar, and 6% showed high HbA1C levels (a marker for blood sugar control).

She said 5% of those examined were in particularly poor health according to their doctors.

Additionally, 30% had ECG abnormalities and 32% of the participants were smokers.

Out of the 10,244 citizens invited, 7,411 participated. The data revealed that 30% of those screened were physically inactive and 34% had excess body weight.

Minister Hrstić said Croatian citizens are not doing well in terms of "healthy life years", as they are two years behind the EU average.

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death

Krunoslav Capak, director of the Croatian Institute of Public Health, said cardiovascular diseases are still the leading cause of death in Croatia (38%), followed by cancers (26%).

The aim of these preventive check-ups is to identify risk factors for these chronic diseases early, as 23% of Croatia's population is over 65.

Capak said projections show that for every one euro invested in prevention, 14 euros are saved in future treatment costs.

Data from February indicate that 40% of family medicine teams are involved in implementing the preventive check-ups.

Tomislav Benjak, head of the working group for the check-ups, said approximately 300,000 citizens are expected to be examined as part of this programme.