title: Estimating the yield of NHS Health Checks in England: a population-based cohort study.
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 (≥140/90 mmHg) 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.
authors.affiliation: King's College London, London SE1 3QD, UK.
authors.forename: Alice S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Forster
authors.affiliation: Lambeth-Southwark Public Health Directorate, London SE1 2QH, UK.
authors.forename: Hiten
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dodhia
authors.affiliation: King's College London, London SE1 3QD, UK.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Booth
authors.affiliation: King's College London, London SE1 3QD, UK.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dregan
authors.affiliation: London Borough of Lewisham, London SE6 4RU, UK.
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.affiliation: London Borough of Lewisham, London SE6 4RU, UK.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: King's College London, London SE1 3QD, UK.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.affiliation: King's College London, London SE1 3QD, UK.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.affiliation: King's College London, London SE1 3QD, UK.
authors.forename: Martin C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gulliford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006292:Health Priorities; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011322:Primary Prevention; D015980:Public Health Practice; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: circulatory disease; electronic health records; primary care; screening