Yearly checkups may not reduce mortality and carry risks, warn experts.
Experts warn that routine annual checkups may not be beneficial and can even cause harm in some people. A systematic review of 17 clinical trials involving 230,000 people found that general checkups had "little or no effect" on total mortality or cancer, cardiovascular, heart disease, and stroke mortality. False positives and overdiagnosis can lead to unnecessary interventions or treatments. Instead, experts suggest focusing on structural interventions aimed at reducing disease, such as higher taxes on tobacco and alcohol or restricting corporate advertising of harmful products.