Effectiveness of the population-based ‘check your health preventive programme’ conducted in a primary care setting: a pragmatic randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Background

Health checks have been suggested as an early detection approach aiming at lowering the risk of chronic disease development. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a health check programme offered to the general population, aged 30–49 years.

Methods

The entire population aged 30–49 years (N=26 216) living in the municipality of Randers, Denmark, was invited to a health check during 5 years. A pragmatic household cluster-randomised controlled trial was conducted in 10 505 citizens. The intervention group (IG, N=5250) included citizens randomised to the second year and reinvited in the 5th year. The comparison group (CG, N=5255) included citizens randomised to the 5th year. Outcomes were modelled cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk; self-reported physical activity (PA) and objectively measured cardio respiratory fitness (CRF); self-rated health (short-form 12 (SF-12)), self-rated mental health (SF-12_Mental Component Score (MCS)) and, registry information on sick-leave and employment. Due to low participation, we compared groups matched on propensity scores for participation when reinvited.

Results

Participation in the first health check was 51% (N=2698) in the IG and 40% (N=2120) in the CG. In the IG 26% (N=1340) participated in both the first and second health checks. No intervention effects were found comparing IG and CG. Mean differences were (95% CI): modelled CVD risk: −0.052 (95% CI −0.107 to 0.003)%, PA: −0.156 (−0.331 to 0.019) days/week with 30 min moderate PA, CRF: 0.133 (−0.560 to 0.826) mL O ₂/min/kg, SF-12: −0.003 (−0.032 to 0.026), SF-12_MCS: 0.355 (-0.423 to 1.132), sick leave periods ≥3 weeks: −0.004 (−0.025 to 0.017), employment: −0.004 (−0.032 to 0.024).

Conclusions

Preventive health checks offered to the general population, aged 30–49 years, had no effects on a wide range of indicators of chronic disease risk.

Trial registration number

NCT02028195.