The controversial British NHS Health Check programme has successfully prevented major cardiovascular incidents, according to research published today.
In its first five years, it prevented 2,500 cases, according to researchers at Queen Mary University of London.
It also helped with diagnosis of common conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and chronic kidney disease, the researchers say.
The programme is also being successful at ensuring attendance from ethnic minority and deprived populations, they reported.
The programme aims to offer a free check to all adults aged between 40 and 74. International studies have cast doubt on its cost-effectiveness.
Researchers used the Qresearch database to study its impact in 655 GP practices involving some 1.7 million people.
They say that a new case of hypertension was found in every 27 appointments and a new case of diabetes in every 110 appointments. It takes 265 appointments to find a case of kidney disease, they say.
Some 14% of those taking part were referred to lifestyle interventions for problems such as obesity, alcohol, hypertension or smoking.
The findings are reported today in BMJ Open.
Researcher Dr John Robson said: “The NHS Health Check programme is the first of its kind anywhere in the world and our study demonstrates a modest but successful start.
“In the first five years of the programme, an estimated 2,500 people were also prevented from having a stroke or heart attack through treatments following their NHS Health Check.
“Uptake of the programme during the study period showed year-on-year improvement, but much still needs to be done as there is considerable scope for even better coverage.”
The findings were welcomed by the British Heart Foundation.
Ceri Jones, from the foundation, said: “These results are a real success story and show the life saving impact that health checks are having in helping people cut their risk of a heart attack or stroke.”
“However uptake is too low. We would urge everyone over the age of 40 to take up the offer of a free health check.”
The NHS Health Check in England: an evaluation of the first 4 years. BMJ Open 14 January 2016;6: e008840; doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008840 [abstract]
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