ArticleBMJ open2020
Evaluation of the uptake and delivery of the NHS Health Check programme in England, using primary care data from 9.5 million people: a cross-sectional study.
Article in BMJ open, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 36 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
36 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 71 citations in OpenAlex.
- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Ethnic Inequalities in Stroke Incidence Patterns and Trends in High-Income Countries (2015-2025).Neuroepidemiology · 2026Pooled it
- Evaluating the Effectiveness of Primary Care Health Checks at Assessing Cardiovascular Risks among Ethnic Minorities in the UK: A Systematic Review.Reviews in cardiovascular medicine · 2025Pooled it
- A service evaluation of the uptake and effectiveness of a digital delivery of the NHS health check service.BMJ open · 2024Trial
- Investigating a novel population health management system to increase access to healthcare for children: a nested cross-sectional study within a cluster randomised controlled trial.BMJ quality & safety · 2024Trial
- Increasing uptake of NHS Health Checks: a randomised controlled trial using GP computer prompts.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2021Trial
- Evaluation of a National Health Service Machine-Learning Model for Hypertension Case-Finding: Retrospective Cohort Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- Comparing practice characteristics and quality outcomes between parkrun and non-parkrun GP practices in England, with a focus on socioeconomic equity: a cross-sectional study.BMC public health · 2026Observational
- Potential of earlier primary care health checks for prevention of cardiovascular events in younger age groups: population-based study in the United Kingdom.BMC medicine · 2026Article
- A mixed method evaluation using the RE-AIM framework of a student-led community-based cardiovascular disease screening clinic in an urban community setting.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- A Scoping Review of Noncommunicable Disease Programs Evaluation: Bridging Gaps and Improving Frameworks in Primary Healthcare.Health science reports · 2026Review
- Article
- Breaking Barriers Transforming Primary Care to Serve the Physical Health Needs of Individuals With SMI in the NHS.International journal of mental health nursing · 2025Review
- The effectiveness of interventions used to improve general health check uptake by the older adult population: a systematic review and meta-analysis.PLOS global public health · 2025Article
- Polygenic risk score adds to a clinical risk score in the prediction of cardiovascular disease in a clinical setting.European heart journal · 2024Article
- Comparing screening based on the NHS Health Check and Polypill Prevention Programmes in the primary prevention of heart attacks and strokes.Journal of medical screening · 2024Article
- Chronic pain-mental health comorbidity and excess prevalence of health risk behaviours: a cross-sectional study.Primary health care research & development · 2024Article
- NHS Health Check attendance is associated with reduced multiorgan disease risk: a matched cohort study in the UK Biobank.BMC medicine · 2024Article
- Automated Retinal Vessel Analysis Based on Fundus Photographs as a Predictor for Non-Ophthalmic Diseases-Evolution and Perspectives.Journal of personalized medicine · 2023Review
- Guideline-Based Cardiovascular Risk Assessment Delivered by an mHealth App: Development Study.JMIR cardio · 2023Article
- Sociodemographic and health-related differences in undiagnosed hypertension in the health survey for England 2015-2019: a cross-sectional cohort study.EClinicalMedicine · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
16 authors at 6 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesTo describe the uptake and outputs of the National Health Service Health Check (NHSHC) programme in England.
designObservational study.
settingNational primary care data extracted directly by NHS Digital from 90% of general practices (GP) in England.
participantsIndividuals aged 40-74 years, invited to or completing a NHSHC between 2012 and 2017, defined using primary care Read codes.
interventionThe NHSHC, a structured assessment of non-communicable disease risk factors and 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, with recommendations for behavioural change support and therapeutic interventions.
resultsDuring the 5-year cycle, 9 694 979 individuals were offered an NHSHC and 5 102 758 (52.6%) took up the offer. There was geographical variation in uptake between local authorities across England ranging from 25.1% to 84.7%. Invitation methods changed over time to incorporate greater digitalisation, opportunistic delivery and delivery by third-party providers.The population offered an NHSHC resembled the English population in ethnicity and deprivation characteristics. Attendees were more likely to be older and women, but were similar in terms of ethnicity and deprivation, compared with non-attendees. Among attendees, risk factor prevalence reflected population survey estimates for England. Where a CVD risk score was documented, 25.9% had a 10-year CVD risk ≥10%, of which 20.3% were prescribed a statin. Advice, information and referrals were coded as delivered to over 2.5 million individuals identified to have risk factors.
conclusionThis national analysis of the NHSHC programme, using primary care data from over 9.5 million individuals offered a check, reveals an uptake rate of over 50% and no significant evidence of inequity by ethnicity or deprivation. To maximise the anticipated value of the NHSHC, we suggest continued action is needed to invite more eligible people for a check, reduce geographical variation in uptake, prioritise engagement with non-attendees and promote greater use of evidence-based interventions especially where risk is identified.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.