NHS Health Check comorbidity and management: an observational matched study in primary care

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
• Health Services Research

Background:

• The National Health Service (NHS) Health Check programme aims to identify individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease and comorbidities.
• The program offers behavioral change support and treatment to eligible participants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the coverage and impact of the NHS Health Check programme.
• To assess its effectiveness in cardiovascular risk management and the identification of new comorbidities.

Main Methods:

• An observational 5-year study was conducted in general practices in east London.
• A matched analysis compared comorbidity rates between NHS Health Check attendees and non-attendees.

Main Results:

• The NHS Health Check programme achieved 85% coverage by 2014, with higher attendance among deprived populations and South Asians.
• Attendees were more likely to be prescribed statins (11.5% vs 8.2%).
• Newly diagnosed diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease were significantly more common in attendees compared to non-attendees.

Conclusions:

• The NHS Health Check programme demonstrated equitable provision and high recent coverage.
• The program effectively identified new cases of major comorbidities and increased statin prescription rates.
• These findings highlight the public health importance of the NHS Health Check programme in managing cardiovascular risk.