The effectiveness of a cardiovascular ‘health check’ in a workplace setting
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN42086806 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN42086806 |
| Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) | 360452 |
| Central Portfolio Management System (CPMS) | 71598 |
| Sponsor | North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust |
| Funder | Vital Signs Solutions Ltd |
- Submission date
- 05/02/2026
- Registration date
- 05/02/2026
- Last edited
- 05/02/2026
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Circulatory System
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
The National Health Service (NHS) introduced the NHS Health Check for patients aged 40-74 years back in 2009. The intention is to detect any health conditions early, like high blood pressure or high cholesterol, to then tackle them with lifestyle advice and medication. In recent years initiatives have looked at improving patient attendance rates and reducing costs, both of which are issues in the NHS. One example, proven to be successful outside the UK, is to introduce a Health Check in the workplace. To make the health check process more cost-effective and quicker, others have looked at an at-home rather than in-person check-up.
There is a lack of evidence concerning the effectiveness of a digital, remote approach of people/patients conducting health checks via the workplace route. If participation rates are high, and appropriate follow-up of cases - where (medical) intervention is indicated - takes place, then this could potentially be an alternative to the traditional in-person NHS Health Check. This study looks to recruit from a cohort of people who, as employees, 12 months ago had a health check-up in a remote and digital manner using a point-of-care test to measure their heart health. By repeating the health check process a year later, the effectiveness and impact of the initial scheme can be determined. The PocDoc Healthy Heart check that is used gives information on blood lipids/cholesterol and the risk of heart attack and stroke. The safety of how any initial significant baseline findings were acted on a year ago during testing (for example, if someone was found to have really high cholesterol levels) will also be evaluated.
Who can participate?
Employees aged 25 – 85 years who last year participated in the baseline workplace-based PocDoc Healthy Heart check initiative
What does the study involve?
Apart from providing written informed consent, participants are asked to conduct a PocDoc Healthy Heart point-of-care test from the comfort of their own home or workplace. The kit is designed so that it can be used by the target person (or patient)
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The possible benefit for participants is that they will do a repeat test, with a year gap in between, of their blood lipids and cholesterol levels. They will therefore monitor their cardiovascular health, and if a significant result is found, then they can discuss this with their regular healthcare professional. Apart from a small fingerprick to take a few drops of blood, there are no risks anticipated.
Where is the study run from?
The study is run by Cumbria Health, a provider of NHS services in Cumbria England and North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2026 to October 2026
Who is funding the study?
The study is funded by Vital Signs Solutions Ltd (manufacturer and distributor of PocDoc Healthy Heart Check point-of-care test)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Leon Jonker, leon.jonker@ncic.nhs.uk
Contact information
Scientific
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
R&D Department
Penrith Hospital
Penrith
CA11 8HX
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)1228 602173 |
|---|---|
| leon.jonker@ncic.nhs.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Non-randomized; Interventional; Design type: Screening, Diagnosis, Education or Self-Management, Device |
| Secondary study design | Non randomised study |
| Participant information sheet | 48983_PIS_V2.0_05Dec2025.docx |
| Scientific title | Digital and remote ‘health check’ screening for cardiovascular disease in a workplace setting: a cohort study (ACHIEVE [Assessment of Cardiovascular Health – Individual EValuative Exercise]) |
| Study acronym | ACHIEVE |
| Study objectives | 1. Any change observed in cardiovascular health parameters, as measured with QRISK3 score, between baseline and 12 months follow-up PocDoc Healthy Heart Check tests. 2. Comparison of the number of participants in the three main QRISK3 categories at baseline and at 12-month follow-up (low risk – QRISK3 score of less than 10%; moderate risk – QRISK3 of 10-20%; high risk – QRISK3 score of more than 20%) 3. Any change observed in blood lipid and cholesterol markers (including total cholesterol, HDL, non-HDL, total cholesterol : HDL ratio, total cholesterol : high density lipids ratio, total glycerides, LDL) between baseline and 12 months follow-up PocDoc Healthy Heart Check tests. 4. Number of significant (QRISK3 10% or higher) GP notifications indicated at baseline and 12 months follow-up PocDoc Healthy Heart Check tests, respectively. 5. Review of Health Check Outcomes, i.e. an audit of what happened on the back of any significant findings when participants did the health check 12 months ago. Any actions and/or activities within 4 months of conducting that baseline PocDoc Healthy Heart test. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 04/12/2025, London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee (2 Redman Place, Stratford, London, E20 1JQ, UK; Tel: not available; fulham.rec@hra.nhs.uk), ref: 25/PR/1602 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Cardiovascular diseases |
| Intervention | After reading this Participant Information Sheet, the employee completes the Informed Consent Form and returns it to the ACHIEVE research team using a Freepost envelope (no stamp needed). The study team sends the PocDoc Healthy Heart Check kit in the post to the participant (along with the countersigned ICF). Within 4 weeks of receiving the kit, the participant undertakes the health checks. The ACHIEVE team will also be able to see the PocDoc Healthy Heart Check test results. They will inform the participant’s GP practice of said results (lipid, cholesterol, and QRISK3 score). This is to safeguard for any serious medical condition that may be identified. Any follow-up care that patients may seek or receive after the PocDoC testing does not form part of this ACHIEVE research study. This is an optional item for participants who are registered with a selection of GP practices. Participants do not have to do anything themselves for this part of the study. The ACHIEVE team reviews the participant’s GP medical records to check if appropriate actions were taken on the back of any findings made by doing the health check. They only do this review exercise for the results from the tests the last time round (when participant volunteered in late 2024 to early 2025). |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
|
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. % of original baseline volunteers consenting to be participants in the ACHIEVE study at 12 months |
| Completion date | 31/10/2026 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | |
|---|---|
| Age group | Mixed |
| Lower age limit | 25 Years |
| Upper age limit | 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 824 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Adults aged 25 – 85 years* 2. Participants in original workplace ‘baseline’ cardiovascular health check. 3. Currently still employed by one of the original employers involved in the original cardiovascular health check initiative. 4. Currently not absent from work long-term due to illness or for other reason (e.g., maternal leave, sabbatical; unless employee has explicitly indicated to employer that they can be contacted for non-work-related reasons). *In accordance with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Known to have high cholesterol levels, and already being treated for this by GP and/or consultant, when participating in the original workplace ‘baseline’ cardiovascular health check* 2. Pre-existing type 1 diabetes mellitus*, chronic kidney disease (stage 3 or higher) treated with medication*, known familial hypercholesterolaemia* 3. No access to phone/tablet/computer to use the POCDOC App 4. Any reasons for the person being unable to follow the protocol, including lack of mental capacity to consent to taking part in the study (examples include dementia, patient housebound, severe learning disability). 5. The patient has concurrent (medical) conditions that in the opinion of the investigator may compromise patient safety or study objectives (examples include receiving palliative care, medical condition that contraindicates giving routine blood samples) *In accordance with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/01/2026 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/09/2026 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centres
Cumberland Infirmary
Infirmary Street
Carlisle
CA2 7HY
England
London Road
Carlisle
CA1 2NS
England
Freeman Road
High Heaton
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE7 7DN
England
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | version 2.0 | 05/12/2025 | 05/02/2026 | No | Yes |
| Protocol file | version 1.1 | 09/01/2026 | 05/02/2026 | No | No |
Additional files
- 48983_PROTOCOL_V1.1_09Jan2026.docx
- Protocol file
- 48983_PIS_V2.0_05Dec2025.docx
- Participant information sheet
Editorial Notes
05/02/2026: Study's existence confirmed by the NIHR.
