Limited data suggest that systematic risk assessment for CVD has no statistically significant effects on clinical endpoints .
There is limited evidence to suggest that CVD systematic risk assessment may have some favourable effects on cardiovascular risk factors .
BACKGROUND Screening programmes can potentially identify people at high cardiovascular risk and reduce cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) morbidity and mortality .
However , there is currently not enough evidence showing clear clinical or economic benefits of systematic screening-like programmes over the widely practised opportunistic risk assessment of CVD in primary care setting s. OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this review was to assess the effectiveness , costs and adverse effects of systematic risk assessment compared to opportunistic risk assessment for the primary prevention of CVD .
Effectiveness of health checks conducted by nurses in primary care: final results of the OXCHECK study
Abstract Objective : To determine the effectiveness of health checks , performed by nurses in primary care , in reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease and cancer . Design : R and omised controlled trial . Setting : Five urban general practice s in Bedfordshire . Subjects : 2205 men and women who were r and omly allocated a first health check in 1989 - 90 and a re-examination in 1992 - 3 ( the intervention group ) ; 1916 men and women who were r and omly allocated an initial health check in 1992 - 3 ( the control group ) . All subjects were aged 35 - 64 at recruitment in 1989 . Main outcome measures : Serum total cholesterol concentration , blood pressure , body mass index , and smoking prevalence ( with biochemical validation of cessation ) ; self reported dietary , exercise , and alcohol habits . Results : Mean serum total cholesterol was 3.1 % lower in the intervention group than controls ( difference 0.19 mmol/l ( 95 % confidence interval 0.12 to 0.26 ) ; in women it was 4.5 % lower ( P<0.0001 ) and in men 1.6 % ( P<0.05 ) , a significant difference between the sexes ( P<0.01 ) . Self reported saturated fat intake was also significantly lower in the intervention group . Systolic and diastolic blood pressures and body mass index were respectively 1.9 % , 1.9 % , and 1.4 % lower in the intervention group ( P<0.005 in all cases ) . There was a 3.9 % ( 2.4 to 5.3 ) difference in the percentage of subjects with a cholesterol concentration > /=8 mmol/l , but no significant differences in the number with diastolic blood pressure > /=100 mm Hg or body mass index > /=30 kg/m2 . There was no significant difference between the two groups in prevalence of smoking or excessive alcohol use . Annual rechecks were no more effective than a single recheck at three years , but health checks led to a significant increase in visits to the nurse according to patients ' degree of cardiovascular risk . Conclusions : The benefits of health checks were sustained over three years . The main effects were to promote dietary change and reduce cholesterol concentrations ; small differences in blood pressure may have been attributable to accommodation to measurement . The benefits of systematic health promotion in primary care are real , but must be weighed against the costs in relation to other priorities . Key messages Key messages There is little effect on smoking or alcohol use , and more targeted approaches to modifying these behaviours may be appropriate Systematic implementation of health checks might lead to a reduction in risk of myocardial infa rct ion among those who attend of about 5 - 15 % ; men , who are at higher risk , show less change than women Health checks consume substantial re sources , and their effect is attenuated by non-attendance The benefits of health promotion through primary care must be weighed against their costs and in relation to other
Limited data suggest that systematic risk assessment for CVD has no statistically significant effects on clinical endpoints .
There is limited evidence to suggest that CVD systematic risk assessment may have some favourable effects on cardiovascular risk factors .
BACKGROUND Screening programmes can potentially identify people at high cardiovascular risk and reduce cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) morbidity and mortality .
However , there is currently not enough evidence showing clear clinical or economic benefits of systematic screening-like programmes over the widely practised opportunistic risk assessment of CVD in primary care setting s. OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this review was to assess the effectiveness , costs and adverse effects of systematic risk assessment compared to opportunistic risk assessment for the primary prevention of CVD .