Healthy individuals without symptoms or known risk conditions do not need regular health check-ups but may benefit from conversations to increase health literacy

Rationale:

Health check-ups for healthy individuals, in the sense of screening for more than one disease or risk factor, generate diagnoses and costs without improving health. According to a 2019 systematic review based on 17 studies and outcomes for 251,891 participants, health check-ups do not reduce morbidity or mortality, either overall or related to cancer or cardiovascular disease. No reduction was found in hospitalizations, functional decline, anxiety, doctor visits, or work absences.

Reference:

• Krogsbøll  LT, Jørgensen  KJ, Gøtzsche  PC. General health checks in adults for reducing morbidity and mortality from disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2019, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD009009. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009009.pub3. Accessed 14 May 2021.