Prevention is not an abstract word or concept — it is a healthy habit that we should all embrace. The tendency, however, is to undergo medical examinations only when a problem arises. A check-up consultation is important because its purpose is to identify potential conditions early, before they affect our health. It identifies risk factors and provides targeted recommendations on management and the measures to be adopted in the event of problems that may not yet have fully developed.

What form can it take? The pathway can be standard or personalised depending on the patient’s needs.

How does this pathway begin? The first step consists of a check-up planning consultation: the specialist physician carefully takes the patient’s medical history and performs an initial physical examination, assessing together with the patient which investigations may be useful in their specific case (personalised pathway). The same physician will follow the patient’s pathway, gathering and synthesising the feedback received from specialist colleagues. During the closing check-up consultation, a summary document will be compiled containing all the information collected. It is at this stage that the physician will clarify any outstanding questions and plan short-, medium-, and long-term objectives.

What are the most frequently requested assessments? The most frequently requested assessments are: blood tests; cardiology consultation with maximal stress ECG; cardiac echocardiogram; bone densitometry for body composition analysis; breast care pathway with mammographic screening; competitive/non-competitive sports fitness examination. Many further investigations are also available, including gynaecological/urological consultation, dermatological consultation, and gastrointestinal endoscopy (such as gastroscopy and colonoscopy). The selection can be defined and optimised in advance according to the individual’s specific needs.