The periodic health examination: what to check and screen at each age
- Topic
The check-up of a person without symptoms: what is asked, measured and screened at each stage of life to catch disease early.
What it is
The periodic health examination is a planned visit for people who feel well. It updates the history and risk factors, measures blood pressure and body mass index, offers vaccines and counselling, and orders only the screening tests that have proven benefit for that age and sex. In the United States the reference is the USPSTF list of grade A and B recommendations; in Colombia it is the Ruta Integral de Atención para la Promoción y Mantenimiento de la Salud (Resolución 3280 de 2018), organised by life-course stage. The two differ in some ages and tests, and local rules apply in practice.
Key facts
- Screening is for people without symptoms; a symptom calls for a diagnostic test, not a screening test.
- Each test needs proven benefit, an acceptable test, a treatable early stage and a follow-up pathway for positive results.
- Colombia's route divides life into early childhood, childhood, adolescence (12–17), youth (18–28), adulthood (29–59) and old age (60 and over).
- The Colombian cardiovascular and metabolic screening includes fasting glucose, lipid profile, creatinine and urinalysis.
- Children are screened too: growth and development, vision at 3–5 years, and depression and anxiety in adolescents.
- Too much screening harms: false positives, overdiagnosis and invasive follow-up tests.
Step by step
- Update the history: new illnesses, operations, medicines, allergies and family history (cancer, early cardiovascular disease, diabetes).
- Ask about tobacco (pack-years), alcohol, drugs, diet, physical activity, sleep, mood and sexual health.
- Measure weight, height, BMI, waist, blood pressure and, in older adults, gait and vision.
- Review the vaccination card and update it according to the national schedule.
- Order the screening tests that match age, sex and risk, and record when each one is due again.
- Explain results and agree on a plan; in Colombia, refer to the route's programmes when a risk is found.
Adults without symptoms. USPSTF = United States Preventive Services Task Force (grade A or B). Colombia = Resolución 3280 de 2018.
| Age group | At every visit | USPSTF screening | Colombia (Res. 3280) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18–39 | History and family history, tobacco, alcohol and drugs, mood, blood pressure, BMI, vaccines, sexual health | Blood pressure; HIV (15–65) and hepatitis C (18–79) once; chlamydia and gonorrhoea in sexually active women up to 24; cervical cancer from 21; depression, anxiety and unhealthy alcohol use | Youth (18–28) and adulthood (29–59) visits; cervical cytology at 25–29 (scheme 1-3-3); cardiovascular and metabolic screening every five years in adults |
| 40–49 | Same, plus cardiovascular risk estimation | Breast cancer mammography every two years from 40; colorectal cancer from 45; statin assessment from 40 with risk factors; diabetes 35–70 with overweight | HPV DNA test 30–65 (scheme 1-5-5), or visual inspection at 30–50 in dispersed rural areas; clinical breast exam yearly from 40 |
| 50–64 | Same, plus menopause and bone health questions | Colorectal cancer (grade A, 50–75); lung cancer 50–80 with 20 pack-years who smoke or quit within 15 years; osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at risk | Mammography every two years at 50–69; fecal immunochemical test every two years from 50; prostate screening (PSA with rectal exam) at 50–75, no more often than every five years |
| 65 and over | Same, plus function, falls, vision, hearing, cognition and polypharmacy | Osteoporosis in all women; abdominal aortic aneurysm ultrasound once in men 65–75 who ever smoked; exercise to prevent falls if at risk | Old age (60 and over) visits; cervical screening stops at 65 if recent tests were negative; cardiovascular and metabolic screening every five years |
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Which cervical cancer screening tests does Colombia's Resolución 3280 assign by age?
Cytology at 25–29 years (scheme 1-3-3), HPV DNA test at 30–65 (scheme 1-5-5) and visual inspection at 30–50 in dispersed rural areas.
At what ages and how often is mammography offered under the Colombian route?
Every two years between 50 and 69 years, with a clinical breast examination at least yearly from 40.
Who qualifies for lung cancer screening according to the USPSTF?
Adults aged 50–80 with a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years who still smoke or quit within the last 15 years.
Which men are offered a one-time ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysm by the USPSTF?
Men aged 65–75 who have ever smoked.
What does the Colombian cardiovascular and metabolic screening include, and how often?
Fasting glucose, lipid profile, creatinine and urinalysis, every five years in adults and older people.
Elsewhere in DurgiPedia
- Principles of screening
- Colombia's health promotion and maintenance route (Res. 3280 de 2018) from the nursing side
Connections
Educational content on the clinical exam; it is learned and practised under supervision. It does not replace assessment by a health professional and is not for self-diagnosis.
Sources: A & B Recommendations (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 2026); Compilación Jurídica SuperSalud - Resolución 3280 de 2018 MSPS (Superintendencia Nacional de Salud, Colombia, 2018).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.