Health tests and health consultations reduced cardiovascular risk without psychological strain, increased healthcare utilization or increased costs. An overview of the results from a 5-year randomized trial in primary care. The Ebeltoft Health Promotion Project (EHPP).
BACKGROUND
Few randomized controlled trials (RCT) have evaluated health tests and health consultations in primary care with a long follow-up period. The Ebeltoft Health Promotion Project (EHPP) evaluated health tests and health consultations over a period of 5 years in the frame of a health technology assessment.


OBJECTIVE
To review the results of EHPP.


METHODS
RCT with a control group answering questionnaires and two intervention groups having questionnaires, a comprehensive health test with written advice followed by either a normal consultation on demand or a planned 45 minutes patient-centred consultation.


METHODS
Primary care.


METHODS
The target population was all 30-49 year old persons in the municipality of Ebeltoft, Denmark. Invitations were received by 2000 randomly selected persons.


METHODS
A comprehensive biomedical health test including a cardiovascular risk score (CVRS) followed by written advice and health consultations.


METHODS
Biomedical measures, psychological measures, healthcare contacts, life years gained, direct and total health costs.


RESULTS
At baseline 75% participated. During the 5 years 85% participated at least once. Elevated CVRS was found in 19% in the control group compared to 10% in the intervention groups (p<0.01) after 5 years. There were no measurable long term psychological reactions. Numbers of contacts to the healthcare system were not increased. Significantly better life expectancy was found without extra direct and total costs.


CONCLUSIONS
An offer of health tests and patient-centred health consultations to the middle-aged population can be cost-effective and may be considered in the fight against the increasing burden of lifestyle diseases.
Lauritzen
Torsten
T
Department of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Denmark. tl@alm.au.dk
Jensen
Morten Sig Ager
MS
Thomsen
Janus Laust
JL
Christensen
Bo
B
Engberg
Marianne
M
D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005194:Family Practice / Q000191:economics; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006266:Health Education / Q000191:economics; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires