Abstract
Background: This study aimed to evaluate the yield of the NHS Health Checks programme.
Methods: A cohort study, conducted in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink in England. Electronic health records were analysed for patients aged 40–74 receiving an NHS Health Check between 2010 and 2013.
Results: There were 65 324 men and 75 032 women receiving a health check. For every 1000 men assessed, there were 205 smokers (95% confidence interval 195–215), 355 (340–369) with hypertension (≥140/90mmHg) and 633 (607–658) with elevated cholesterol (≥5 mmol/l). Among 1000 women, there were 161 (151–171) smokers, 247 (238–257) with hypertension and 668 (646–689) with elevated cholesterol. In the 12 months following the check, statins were prescribed to 18% of men and 21% of women with ≥20% cardiovascular risk and antihypertensive drugs to 11% of men and 16% of women with ≥20% cardiovascular risk. Slight reductions in risk factor values were observed in the minority of participants with follow-up values recorded in the 15 months following the check.
Conclusions: A universal primary prevention programme identifies substantial risk factor burden in a population without known cardiovascular disease. Research is needed to monitor interventions, and intermediate- and long-term outcomes, in those identified at high risk.
Methods: A cohort study, conducted in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink in England. Electronic health records were analysed for patients aged 40–74 receiving an NHS Health Check between 2010 and 2013.
Results: There were 65 324 men and 75 032 women receiving a health check. For every 1000 men assessed, there were 205 smokers (95% confidence interval 195–215), 355 (340–369) with hypertension (≥140/90mmHg) and 633 (607–658) with elevated cholesterol (≥5 mmol/l). Among 1000 women, there were 161 (151–171) smokers, 247 (238–257) with hypertension and 668 (646–689) with elevated cholesterol. In the 12 months following the check, statins were prescribed to 18% of men and 21% of women with ≥20% cardiovascular risk and antihypertensive drugs to 11% of men and 16% of women with ≥20% cardiovascular risk. Slight reductions in risk factor values were observed in the minority of participants with follow-up values recorded in the 15 months following the check.
Conclusions: A universal primary prevention programme identifies substantial risk factor burden in a population without known cardiovascular disease. Research is needed to monitor interventions, and intermediate- and long-term outcomes, in those identified at high risk.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 234-240 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of public health (Oxford, England) |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 17 Oct 2014 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2015 |
