Can Periodic Health Examinations Modify Risk Factors of Coronary Heart Disease?

Kang, Seok Cheol; Kim, Yoong Eun; Jung, Hwee Soo; Song, Yun Mi; Lee, Jung Kwon

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The management of risk factors of coronary heart disease is highly needed because the prevalence of ischemic heart disease is increasing in Korea. This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of periodic health examination on risk factors of coronary heart disease using Framingham Point Scores.
METHODS
The medical records of 343 clients who underwent periodic health examination five times from January 1996 to December 2001 at one medical center in Seoul were reviewed. The five risk factor scores (age, total cholesterol, smoking, HDL-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure), total risk scores, absolute risk and the proportion of the high risk group and the obesity group were analyzed for all the periodic health examinations.
RESULTS
For the five periodic health examinations, age risk factor score increased in men and women. Scores of risk factors such as smoking, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and systolic blood pressure decreased in men only (P<0.0001). The total risk score (P<0.0001) and the absolute risk (P=0.0002) increased in men. The total risk score (P<0.0001) and the absolute risk (P=0.3238) increased in women with no changes of other risk factors except increased age score and decreased HDL-cholesterol score. The proportion of the high risk group (P=0.5406) and the obesity group (P=0.0762) were very small and not changed.
CONCLUSION
The risk of coronary heart disease as not reduced with the five periodic health examinations. Therefore, the total risk score and the absolute risk did not decrease. Continuous risk factors management must be emphasized after periodic health examination for absolute risk reduction.