Routine health check-ups linked to reduced health risks: study

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People who undergo regular medical check-ups are more likely to live a longer and healthier life, a study showed Monday.

An article published in the Journal of BMC Medicine, authored by University of Oxford researcher Celeste McCracken, revealed that participants in the UK's National Health Service "Health Check" program showed lower health risks associated with multiorgan disease, cardiovascular issues and overall mortality, compared to a control group of equal size.

Recipients of the NHS Health Check reported significant reductions in various health risks, including a 19 percent reduction in dementia; a 15 percent decrease in myocardial infarction; a 9 percent lower risk of atrial fibrillation; a 23 percent decrease in the risk of acute kidney injury; and a 44 percent lower risk of liver cirrhosis. Additionally, there was a 23 percent reduction in both all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality.

The study analyzed a matched sample of 97,204 participants from the UK Biobank, evenly divided into two groups of 48,602 each. The health check-ups were conducted over a period spanning from January 2008 to June 2016.

The NHS Health Check, a state-run program managed by the UK Department of Health and Social Care, is designed to prevent cardiovascular disease and facilitate primary disease prevention through early assessments.

The research team highlighted that the study is the first to establish an association between receipt of the NHS Health Check program and a reduced long-term risk of multiorgan outcomes.

However, the researchers cautioned against hastily assuming that health improvements result solely from a single 15-minute appointment. They attributed the positive outcomes to various factors, including the treatment of risk factors, the adoption of healthy behaviors and the enhanced management of active disease processes.

By No Kyung-min(minmin@heraldcorp.com)