Benefits of community health screenings

Consumers who queue up for health screenings at the mall, a senior center, a drug store, or other retail business could benefit from the information they learn. However, screenings in community settings have limitations. Proponents of community-based screenings say they can be lifesavers, detecting illnesses such as heart disease or diabetes before symptoms are evident, but critics caution that at least some tests are not specific or sensitive enough to aid the general public, indicate medical personnel at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Following are various benefits and limitations of these health tests commonly offered in community settings:

Blood and blood pressure screenings. Tests to measure cholesterol, blood glucose (to screen for diabetes), and blood pressure are fairly straightforward, pose little risk, and can help patients track these important aspects of overall health.

Body fat measurement or simple tests to measure fitness. These can help determine overall fitness and provide information indicating where more exercise (and fewer calories) are needed.

Osteoporosis screening. It typically measures bone density in the heel or wrist. It may be useful in assessing the future risk of fractures. An abnormal result indicates the need for additional testing, typically a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan, for more accurate risk predictions.

Vascular ultrasound. Ultrasound technology is used to evaluate blood flow through major arteries and veins. It can provide information about the potential risk of stroke, an abdominal aortic aneurysm, or peripheral disease. The results generally require interpretation by a physician.

Heart scan (coronary calcium scan). This computerized tomography (CT) scan of the heart measures the amount of calcium that may be affecting the organ. Negative results indicate a low risk of heart problems in the next five years. If the results show calcium, the risk of future heart attacks is related to the amount of calcium found.

Full body scan. This test involves taking a CT scan of the entire body. It is promoted as a screening tool for multiple disorders, including heart disease and various types of cancer. Results typically require some degree of interpretation.

With any screening, accuracy is a consideration, as false-negatives and -positives are possible. A study looking at the cost effectiveness of full body scans found that more than 90% of people screened had some type of positive finding indicating a health problem. After further evaluation, only two percent had some sort of disease.

Community screenings are an excellent way to raise awareness about common diseases and, in some situations, identify disease in its early stages. The benefit is realized when patients take the next step, seeing their physician for diagnosis and treatment.

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