General Health Checks in Adults for Reducing Morbidity and Mortality from Disease

Summary

A Cochrane review 09009[Abstract] 1 included 17 randomised trials with a total of 251 891 subjects. Trials specifically targeting older people were excluded. Interventions screening for more than one disease/risk factor were included regardless of the type on healthcare provider. Studies that included a lifestyle intervention (advice on diet, smoking and exercise), in addition to screening were accepted, since this is usual in health checks. Risk of bias was generally low for the primary outcomes. Health checks had no effect on total or cancer mortality, or ischaemic heart disease and little or no effect on cardiovascular mortality or fatal and non-fatal ischaemic heart disease (table T1). Health checks did not reduce morbidity, but they did increase the number of people diagnosed with elevated risk factors. There were little or no difference to hospital admission rates, number of physician visits, or disability (low-certainty evidence). Health checks appeared to slightly improve self-reported health, but it was uncertain whether health checks increase or reduce absence from work.