Evaluating the Effectiveness of Primary Care Health Checks at Assessing Cardiovascular Risks among Ethnic Minorities...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) disproportionately impact minority ethnic communities in the UK.
• The National Health Service (NHS) Health Check (NHSHC) was established in 2009 for early CVD risk factor screening.
• Understanding engagement with NHSHC services among diverse ethnic groups is crucial for equitable healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the engagement of minority ethnic groups with the NHS Health Check (NHSHC) service.
• To identify disparities in NHSHC uptake among different ethnic populations.
• To explore factors influencing service engagement within primary care settings.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of seven studies was conducted.
• Patient demographics of NHSHC attendees were analyzed.
• Literature searches were performed using Ovid (MEDLINE), PubMed, and Web of Science databases, adhering to PRISMA-DTA guidelines.

Main Results:

• Engagement varied significantly across ethnic groups, with South Asian patients showing the highest (21%-68%) and Chinese patients the lowest (12%-61%) uptake.
• Opportunistic screenings had higher engagement rates than those by formal invitation.
• Despite opportunistic screenings being more common, invitation-based screenings showed lower engagement.

Conclusions:

• The NHSHC is underutilized by high-risk patients, especially White and Chinese populations.
• Primary care settings play a vital role in enhancing patient engagement with CVD screening services.
• Targeted strategies are needed to improve equitable access and utilization of NHSHC for all at-risk individuals.