What health check-up items are included in China?

Foreigners new to China often find one thing intriguing: whether it's workplace newcomers, retired seniors, or health-conscious young professionals, “health check-ups” seem to be an inescapable part of daily life for Chinese people. From community health centers to high-end private institutions, and from corporate group packages to personalized premium plans, China's health checkup culture maintains the rigor of basic medicine while integrating locally distinctive health management principles. Examining this process from a foreigner's perspective reveals that Chinese health checkups involve far more than just “drawing a few vials of blood and taking an X-ray.”

I. Basic Items: A “Health Map” Covering All Populations

Whether choosing the health checkup department of a public tertiary hospital or an independent chain center (like Meinian Health or iKang), China's basic health checkup packages follow a standardized logic—outlining an individual's health profile through fundamental physiological indicators. While these items may seem familiar to foreigners, the details reveal a strong emphasis on “early warning”:

• General measurements: Height, weight, BMI (Body Mass Index), blood pressure, waist circumference. These seemingly simple metrics are critically linked to metabolic disease risks (e.g., hypertension, diabetes) in China. Doctors often directly recommend “dietary control” or “increased exercise” based on BMI alone.

• Blood and Urine Screening: Complete blood count (to screen for anemia and infections), urinalysis (for early kidney issues), liver function tests (ALT/AST indicators assess liver burden), kidney function tests (creatinine, blood urea nitrogen), fasting blood glucose (diabetes screening), and lipid panel (cholesterol, triglycerides, to alert for cardiovascular disease). Among these, lipid and glucose testing often carry higher priority due to China's rising incidence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in recent years, making early intervention a key focus.

• Imaging Tests: Chest X-ray (screening for tuberculosis, pneumonia) or low-dose spiral CT (lung cancer screening for those over 40 or smokers), abdominal ultrasound (liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, kidneys; common issues like stones, cysts). Many foreigners wonder: “Why screen for gallbladder issues?” The answer lies in China's high incidence of gallstones, which often present no early symptoms. Ultrasound offers a cost-effective way to detect potential risks.

• Electrocardiogram (ECG): Standard 12-lead ECG to screen for arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia, and other issues. This is a “mandatory item” for middle-aged and elderly individuals.

II. Specialized Tests: Targeted Screening for Locally Prevalent Diseases

While basic tests form a universal “health dictionary,” Chinese checkups add specialized chapters addressing local disease patterns. These tests are directly linked to China's epidemiological data:

• Helicobacter pylori testing: A simple breath test (C13/C14 breath test) detects infection with this carcinogenic bacterium in the stomach. As China has a high incidence of gastric cancer, and H. pylori is considered a primary risk factor, this test appears on nearly all checkup forms for individuals over 30. Doctors will directly advise: “A positive result requires treatment; otherwise it may progress to gastritis or even gastric cancer.”

• Thyroid Ultrasound + Function Tests: With thyroid nodule detection rates reaching 70% in recent years, ultrasound (high resolution, radiation-free) has become standard. Many reports describe “Grade 3 nodules,” prompting doctors to recommend follow-ups or biopsies based on size and blood flow signals. This “early detection, early observation” approach reflects Chinese vigilance against cancer.

• Bone Density Screening: For women over 40 (especially postmenopausal) and elderly men, ultrasound bone densitometers rapidly assess osteoporosis risk. With China's accelerating aging population and rising osteoporosis-related fractures, this test is widely included in middle-aged and elderly health packages.

• Carotid Ultrasound: Screens for plaque and stenosis to predict stroke risk. With China's stroke incidence ranking among the world's highest, early intervention based on carotid artery health has become a primary focus in community healthcare.

III. The Integration of “Chinese Wellness”: Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution Identification and Health Recommendations

Perhaps the most novel aspect for foreigners is the “TCM Constitution Identification” service offered by many health screening centers. At the consultation counter, experienced TCM practitioners use the Four Diagnostic Methods—observation (tongue coating, complexion), auscultation (body odor), inquiry (preference for cold/hot foods, sleep patterns), and palpation (pulse diagnosis)—to classify constitutions into nine categories such as “Balanced Constitution,” “Qi Deficiency Constitution,” and “Damp-Heat Constitution.” A German office worker who underwent the assessment shared: “The doctor said I have a ‘Yin Deficiency Constitution,’ prone to internal heat and insomnia. They recommended eating more lily bulbs and white fungus while avoiding late nights.” This health guidance, rooted in traditional wisdom, goes beyond diagnosis to offer concrete lifestyle advice, transforming checkups from mere “disease detection” into “constitution regulation.”

IV. Personalization and Contextualization: From “Standard Packages” to “Precision Needs”

China's health checkups avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. Beyond basic packages (around 300-800 RMB), “add-ons” or “customization” cater to specific demographics:

• Office workers: Sedentary professions like programmers and teachers often add cervical/lumbar spine X-rays and eye exams (for eye strain, dry eye syndrome); Sales reps and executives may add cardiovascular screenings (carotid ultrasound, cardiac echocardiography).

• Women's Specialized Packages: Breast ultrasound + mammography (breast cancer screening) and HPV + TCT (cervical cancer screening) form a nearly mandatory combination for women over 30. Many foreign companies prominently feature these tests in their health benefits packages for female employees.

• Comprehensive Screening for Middle-Aged and Elderly: Gastrointestinal endoscopy (colorectal cancer screening), tumor markers (CEA, CA199, etc.), and low-dose lung CT form the “cancer prevention package” for those over 50. With rising awareness of early cancer detection, appointments for these services have increased annually in recent years.

V. Process and Experience: Efficiency, Privacy, and the “Health Management Loop”

For foreigners, China's health check process may feel somewhat fast-paced yet distinctly efficient: Pre-book appointment → Arrive fasting in the morning → Follow guidance to complete tests by department (ultrasound, blood draws, radiology often on same floor) → Finish all tests before noon → Collect reports in the afternoon or next day → Receive interpretation from a general practitioner (some premium institutions offer one-on-one consultations).

Privacy protection is noteworthy: doctors draw curtains during examinations, and reports are accessible only to the individual or designated family members; many institutions also offer encrypted electronic report downloads. Additionally, the “follow-up services” provided by health check centers are often praised by foreigners—for instance, in cases of abnormal indicators, they directly connect patients with partner hospitals, offering expedited registration and specialist consultations, forming a “screening-diagnosis-treatment” closed loop.

Conclusion: The “Preventive Medicine” Philosophy Behind Health Checkups

For foreigners, health checkups in China transcend mere medical examinations; they embody a “preventive medicine” philosophy of life. This approach integrates modern medicine's precise screening with a deep understanding of local disease patterns, emphasizes individual health data tracking, and conveys holistic perspectives through Traditional Chinese Medicine constitution analysis. As an American physician working in Beijing remarked: “Here, health checkups aren't ‘remedies after illness’ but the starting point for proactive health management—a concept perhaps worthy of global emulation.”

(Note: Specific services may vary by region, institution, age, and gender. It is recommended to select a reputable institution based on individual needs.)

Document dated 2025-11-11 10:09 Modify