Sunday, July 5, 2020

Health Risk Assessment

A health risk assessment (HRA) is a health questionnaire, used to provide individuals with an evaluation of their health risks and quality of life. Commonly an HRA incorporates three key elements – an extended questionnaire, a risk calculation or score, and some form of feedback i.e. face-to-face with a health advisor or an automatic online report.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define an HRA as: "a systematic approach to collecting information from individuals that identifies risk factors, provides individualized feedback, and links the person with at least one intervention to promote health, sustain function, and/or prevent disease".

There is a range of different HRAs available for adults and children. Some target specific populations. For example, in the US, Medicare HRAs ask seniors about their ability to perform daily activities. Medicaid assessments ask questions about health-care access, availability of food, and living conditions. Most HRAs capture information relating to:

Demographic characteristics – age, sex Lifestyle – exercise, smoking, alcohol intake, diet Personal and family medical history (in the US, due to the current interpretation of the Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act, questions regarding family medical history are not permitted if there is any incentive attached to taking an HRA) Physiological data – weight, height, blood pressure, cholesterol Attitudes and willingness to change behavior in order to improve health

The main objectives of an HRA are to:


  • Assess health status 
  • Estimate the level of health risk 
  • Inform and provide feedback to participants to motivate behavior change to reduce health risks


In the US, HRAs used as part of the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit help identify issues important to a senior's health and well-being. HRAs used as part of Medicaid enrollment help identify individuals with health problems that need immediate attention. The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends the use of HRAs in workplace settings when used in combination with health education, have found there is strong or satisfactory evidence that they help improve the following behaviors among employees:


  • Tobacco 
  • Consuming too much alcohol 
  • Seat belts 
  • Fat consumption 
  • Blood pressure 
  • Absenteeism 
  • Healthcare services use 
  • Summary health risk estimates

Other useful links:
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