European Health

Examination Survey

What is EHES?

• A health examination survey (HES) • Includes both questionnaire and

physical measurements• Based on a random sample of the

general population• For many health indicators, the most

reliable data source• Complementary to EHIS and

administrative registers

Why EHES?

• To collect comparable, high quality data on health of the European adult population

• To provide reliable and comparable data for planning and evaluation of health policies and health promotion activities, and research

Setting up EHES

Phase I Phase II

Setting up EHES Reference Centre

Manual for all EU and EEA/EFTA countries

Training programme

Planning and preparing a national HES, including a pilot survey, in 14 countries

Full-size HES in the pilot countries

Planning, preparing and conducting a national HES in other countries

Gradual development to a sustainable EHES system

0 1 2 3 4

Funding of Phase I

• EHES Reference Centre (RC) received funding from the EC/DG Sanco through Tender • Period August 2009-August 2011

• Planning and pilot surveys in 14 countries received funding from the EC/DG Sanco through Joint Action• Period January 2010-January 2012

EHES target population

• Entire country• Permanent residents, including

institutionalized persons• Age group: 25-64 years

• Can be extend to 18+

Core measurements

• Physical measurements• Weight• Height• Waist circumference• Blood pressure

• Blood samples• Total cholesterol• HDL cholesterol• Fasting glucose

• Questionnaire items• Basic background

characteristics• Health behaviours• Health status

• Where applicable, EHIS questions will be used

HES measurements require

• Standardized protocols• Good training and quality control• Adherence to specific ethical and

legal requirements• Informed consent from the

participants

Pilot countries

Finland

Germany

Netherlands

Poland

Czech Republic

SlovakiaHungary

Greece

Italy

MaltaSpain

Portugal

UK/England

Norway

For more information

• EHES web site at

http://www.ehes.info