Jane Ellison responds to the first major evaluation of the NHS Health Check in England.
The first major evaluation, published in the British Medical Journal Open, has found that the programme is effectively identifying people at risk of developing a major cardiovascular incident such as heart attack or stroke. It estimates that over the first 5 years it has prevented 2,500 cases due to treatment following the check. In addition, the programme is helping diagnose conditions commonly linked to cardiovascular disease, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease.
The study, led by Queen Mary University of London, also found that those from the most deprived areas and black and minority ethnic groups, who are at greatest risk of cardiovascular disease, are more likely to attend an NHS Health Check. This makes a positive step towards tackling health inequalities in England.
Recent Comments