J Am Coll Cardiol

Pop-up screenings reveal hidden cardiovascular risk in over two thirds of participants

August 20, 2025

Opportunistic, pop-up cardiovascular screening in community settings identifies a substantial burden of uncontrolled risk factors, particularly in non-traditional venues and rural areas. These findings support the utility of flexible, community-based screening strategies to reach populations with high unmet cardiovascular risk.

Study details: This prospective observational study evaluated a participant-operated health station for cardiovascular risk screening over 7 weeks, deployed in 311 community pharmacies and at a stadium during an international sporting event. The stations collected demographic, lifestyle, and medical history data from 76,085 participants, with the primary outcome being the prevalence of uncontrolled cardiovascular risk factors (elevated BP, elevated BMI, or active smoking).

Results: Of the participants, 89.8% were screened at pharmacies and 10.2% at the sporting event. Nearly half (45.3%) were aged ≥45 years, and 52.5% were male. Overall, 68.9% met criteria for at least 1 uncontrolled risk factor: 37.2% had elevated blood pressure, 60.5% elevated BMI, and 12.1% were smokers. The prevalence of uncontrolled risk factors was higher at the sporting event than in pharmacies. Within pharmacies, rural locations and weekday/daytime screenings captured higher-risk populations.

Source:

Tan S, et al. (2025, August 4). J Am Coll Cardiol. Pop-Up Cardiovascular Screening Within Community Pharmacies and an International Sporting Event. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40815240/