2. Disability and chronic disease after seven years of multiphasic health checkups

A controlled trial has been in progress since April 1964 to evaluate the efficacy of the periodic health examination utilizing automated multiphasic testing. A study group of 5156 persons, randomly selected from among the members of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, born during 1910–1929 and living in the Oakland—San Francisco area, was urged to have annual Multiphasic Health Checkups. Evaluation was done by comparing outcomes between the study group and a similarly selected control group of 5557 subjects, who were not urged to have periodic health checkups. Measures of disability, chronic disease, and utilization of medical services were obtained by a questionnaire mailed biennially to study and control subjects. After 5–7 years, a favorable impact on the health of the older study males compared to the older control males (born during 1910–1919), was evidenced by: (1) a reduction in self-rated disability and reported time lost from work; (2) a greater proportion working; and (3) a lower self-reported utilization of medical services by the sick.