Effectiveness of a national cardiovascular disease risk assessment program (NHS Health Check): Results after one year

- Effects of a cardiovascular risk assessment programme (Health Check) in attendees
- Global cardiovascular disease risk was reduced in individuals with a Health Check.
- Health Check reduced risk factors, diastolic blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
- Statin prescription improved after the introduction of the Health Check.

ObjectiveWe aimed to assess whether the National Health Service (NHS) Health Check, a systematic cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment and management program, was associated with reduction in CVD risk in attendees after one year.MethodsWe extracted data from patients aged 40-74 years, with high estimated CVD risk, who were registered with general practices in a deprived, culturally diverse setting in England. We included 4748 patients at baseline (July 2008-November 2009), with 3712 at follow-up (December 2009-March 2011). We used a pre-post study design to assess changes in global CVD risk, individual CVD risk factors and statin prescription in patients with a complete and partial Health Check.ResultsThere were significant reductions in mean CVD risk score (28.2%; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 27.3-29.1 to 26.2%; 95% CI, 25.4-27.1), diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol levels and lipid ratios after one year in patients with a complete Health Check. Statin prescription increased from 14.0% (95% CI = 11.9-16.0) to 60.6% (95% CI = 57.7-63.5).ConclusionsThe introduction of NHS Health Check was associated with significant but modest reductions in CVD risk among screened high-risk individuals. Further cost-effectiveness analysis and work accounting for uptake is required to assess whether the program can make significant changes to population health.