Check-up

A general health check-up bundles together screening tests and risk assessments in people who feel well, and its value depends heavily on which conditions are screened and how findings are acted upon. The landmark Cochrane review of general health checks in adults found that broad, routine check-ups did not clearly reduce overall mortality or deaths from cardiovascular disease or cancer, which has reshaped how clinicians think about indiscriminate testing. At the same time, targeted, evidence-based screening for specific risks, such as cardiovascular risk assessment and condition-specific programs, can be worthwhile when guided by recommendations from bodies like the US and Canadian preventive services task forces. The references below combine Cochrane systematic reviews and contemporary guideline-level evidence on screening and health-check programs. They are shared for education and are not a substitute for personalized advice from a clinician.

1. General Health Checks in Adults for Reducing Morbidity and Mortality from Disease
   Krogsboll et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2019
   Systematic reviewPMID 30699470DOI
2. General Health Checks in Adults for Reducing Morbidity and Mortality from Disease
   Krogsboll et al. · JAMA · 2013
   Systematic reviewPMID 23780462DOI
3. Systematic versus Opportunistic Risk Assessment for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
   Author et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2016
   Systematic reviewPMID 26824223DOI
4. Risk Scoring for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
   Author et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2026
   Systematic reviewPMID 41700601DOI
5. Screening with Urinary Dipsticks for Reducing Morbidity and Mortality
   Author et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2015
   Systematic reviewPMID 25626128DOI

Compiled from peer-reviewed medical literature indexed on PubMed. This overview is for general education and is not medical advice. · Last updated 2026-06-15