Table 2.

Overview of included screening initiatives, performed in a mixed population: screening methods, patient approach, and response rate

	Study name	Country	Age, years	Screening method	Approach	No. eligible	Response rate
Cope et al, 19674	NA	England	>15	All people responding to posters, talks, and other advertising literature that was distributed throughout the practice were screened	Opportunistic	1711a	39%
Scott et al, 19687	NA	England	≥15	All eligible females in one practice were invited for an examination	Actively invited	1800 females	43%
Pike, 19695	NA	England	>68	All eligible patients were sent a letter to invite them for a series of tests	Actively invited	671	43%
Pike, 19726	NA	England	45–55	Eligible males were sent a letter inviting them to attend a morning for examinations and interviews	Actively invited	309 males	45%
Brown, 19788	NA	England	37–43	All eligible males were sent a letter inviting them to attend for a screening test in the morning	Actively invited	120 males	64%
Anggard et al, 198616	NA	England	20–59	Patients could attend screening at their own request or were invited during a regular consultation	Opportunistic	40 000a	Unknown
Jones et al, 198823	NA	England, Wales	25–55	All patients were invited for screening and those with any of the risk factors were referred for treatment	Actively invited	3800	62%
Mann et al, 198825	NA	England	25–59	Two approaches in different centres: 1. All eligible patients invited; 2. Patients visiting clinic offered a health check consultation	Invited/opportunistic	12 092a	73%
Bennett et al, 198917	South Birmingham Coronary Prevention Project	England	35–65	People attending the GPs surgery were invited to participate, alternatively invitations were sent by post	Invited/opportunistic	2261a	Unknown
Björkelund et al, 199118	NA	Sweden	45–64	Eligible women were invited for a free health survey	Actively invited	1084	86%
OXCHECK Study Group, 199114	OXCHECK	England	35–64	Eligible people were invited for a health check and randomised for participation in the first, second, third, or fourth study year	Actively invited	11 090 responded to initial questionnaire; 2674 were randomised for participation in the first year	73% responded to questionnaire, 82% of those invited for first-year screening accepted
Hellénius et al, 199322	NA	Sweden	15–60	All eligible people visiting the health centre were offered the opportunity to fill in a short questionnaire. Those with ≥ 1 risk factor (known hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, DM, smoking, overweight, physical inactivity, family history of early CVD or symptoms of angina pectoris or intermittent claudication) were offered a free check-up	Opportunistic, stepwise	1904 filled in risk questionnaire, 94% were eligible for the second stepb	6%
Family Heart Study Group, 199415	British Family Heart Study	England, Wales, Scotland	40–59	Eligible patients were identified by household through the male partner; families were screened	Actively invited	4158 males and their families were invited	57% of the families were represented by one or more member
Persson et al, 199432		Sweden	33–42	All eligible males received a postal invitation to a health examination	Actively invited	757	86%
Gran et al,199521	NA	Sweden	30–59	All people living in one primary healthcare centre’s catchment area were invited to participate in a population-based screening programme	Actively invited	3884	68%
Lauritzen et al, 199524	Ebeltoft project	Denmark	30–50	Random sample of all inhabitants of Ebeltoft who were registered with one of the study practices received an invitation. Those willing to participate received a questionnaire and were randomised in three groups: one control group and two intervention groups (health check and written feedback with or without consultation of GP)	Actively invited	2000 were invited; 1370 were willing to participate (control: 465; intervention: 449 and 456)	69%
van den Berg et al, 199926	NA	Netherlands	≥60	All persons registered with one general practice received a letter from their GP offering a cardiovascular health check	Actively invited	1002	80%
Weinehall et al, 199927	Västerbotten Intervention Programme	Sweden	30–60	All people aged 30, 40, 50, and 60 years of age were invited annually to a health provider survey focusing on the traditional risk factors for CVD	Actively invited	2046b	93%
Devroey et al, 200420	NA	Belgium	45–64	All inhabitants of three Belgian towns were invited. An information campaign in the local press had been set up to augment the recruitment	Actively invited	12 756	7%
Bunescu et al, 200819	NA	Romania	25–65	Eligible patients were invited for assessment of CVD risk	Actively invited	1012	79%
Tiessen et al, 201228	NA	Netherlands	>50	Males >50 and females >55 years, without registered DM and not under second-line follow-up by a cardiologist or internist, were invited for assessment of CVD risk by their GP	Actively invited	521	82% responded; 68% participated

CVD = cardiovascular disease. DM = diabetes mellitus. NA = not applicable.

^aIn case of an opportunistic approach: the number of eligible people refers to the number of people who attended screening.

^bThis is the total number of people invited over 8 consecutive screening years.