A new study shows that pop-up health screenings for heart disease risk, held at community pharmacies and major sports events, can uncover hidden heart health problems in people who may not otherwise get checked.
The research was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) and shared at the 73rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand.
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, but it’s often preventable.
Regular health checks can spot risk factors like high blood pressure, high body weight, or smoking habits—yet many people are not getting screened or receiving the preventive care they need.
To address this gap, researchers tested a new way to reach people in their everyday lives. They set up health stations in 311 pharmacies across Australia and at an international cricket match.
These screenings ran from mid-December 2023 to the end of January 2024, as part of the Shane Warne Legacy Health Test, named after the famous cricketer who died suddenly in 2022.
More than 76,000 people participated, with nearly 90% screened at pharmacies and the rest at the cricket match. Most participants were men aged 25 to 34.
Alarmingly, nearly 69% of all participants had at least one uncontrolled risk factor, such as high blood pressure, being overweight or obese, or smoking. More than one-third had blood pressure levels in the high range.
Screenings at the cricket match revealed even more health concerns. People at the match had higher rates of high blood pressure and high body mass index (BMI) than those screened at pharmacies, though smoking rates were lower. Many of these people hadn’t had their blood pressure checked in the past year and weren’t taking medication for it.
At rural pharmacies, participants were usually older—over 45—and had higher rates of diabetes. Screenings in rural areas revealed more uncontrolled risk factors than those in urban areas. Again, many of the people with high blood pressure hadn’t had a recent check and weren’t on any treatment.
“This shows that simple health screenings in places like pharmacies and sports events really work,” said Professor Stephen Nicholls from Monash University, the study’s senior author. “These events attract people who may not regularly visit a doctor, so we’re reaching a group that can benefit the most.”
He added that this approach could help close healthcare gaps, especially in rural areas and among people who don’t often get medical check-ups. The goal is to catch risks early and offer support—such as lifestyle changes or medications—before serious heart problems happen.
“These creative screenings can be built into community programs and events, reaching at-risk groups and helping to reduce the burden of heart disease,” said Nicholls.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about the blood thinner drug that can prevent strokes in people with hidden heart issues and new guidelines on daily aspirin for heart attack and stroke prevention.
For more about heart health, please read studies about This diabetes drug may increase heart failure risk and Common diabetes drug can also prevent heart and kidney diseases.
The study is published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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