A medical check-up is a medical procedure carried out to thoroughly examine overall health conditions. This medical procedure is important for every individual, including the elderly. To monitor the health conditions of the elderly, there are several types of medical check-ups that are important to perform, including the following.

1. Nutritional Status Examination A nutritional status examination is one of the medical check-up procedures for the elderly that includes measuring height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). This examination is important as an early detection method for malnutrition, such as undernutrition or obesity, which are common among the elderly.
2. Blood Pressure Examination High blood pressure or hypertension is a common health issue among the elderly. This condition needs to be monitored as it can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Additionally, low blood pressure (hypotension) is also common among the elderly and can cause symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, weakness, and balance disorders. To minimize these risks, the elderly are advised to have their blood pressure checked regularly, at least once a year.
3. Physical Examinations
   • Vision Function Examination
   • Hearing Function Examination
   • Oral Cavity Examination Physical or physical examinations during a medical check-up will be carried out thoroughly, starting from the cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessel screening).
4. Bone Density Examination The next type of medical check-up for the elderly is a bone density examination or bone mineral density (BMD). This health screening uses DEXA technology (DXA/Dual X-ray Absorptiometry), a medical procedure with low radiation levels to check bone density in the elderly and early detection of osteoporosis.
5. Reproductive System and Breast Examination Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is one of the important laboratory tests for adult men, including the elderly. This laboratory test is performed for early detection of prostate disorders, such as prostate enlargement, urinary tract infections, and prostate cancer. For women, reproductive system examinations can be done through several methods, including pelvic exams, pap smears every 3 years, and HPV tests every 5 years. These examination procedures aim to prevent the risk of vaginal cancer and cervical cancer.
6. Diabetes and Lipid Panel Examination One important type of medical check-up for the elderly is diabetes screening. The prevalence of diabetes increases with age. This examination procedure can be performed every 3 years to control blood sugar levels in the body and prevent the risk of diabetes in the elderly. Total cholesterol examination is another important type of medical check-up for the elderly that can be done to measure the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides. This examination is important to detect potential hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke often experienced by the elderly.
7. Electrocardiogram (ECG) An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a procedure used to measure the heart's electrical activity. This procedure is generally performed to monitor the speed and rhythm of the patient's heart rate. ECG examinations should be done at least every two to three years to monitor overall heart condition.
8. Tumor/Cancer Marker Examination Every individual is advised to undergo colorectal cancer screening regularly, especially starting from the age of 45–75 years. Some common colorectal cancer examination methods include sigmoidoscopy (every 5 years) accompanied by a fecal occult blood test (every 3 years), and colonoscopy (every 10 years). Women over 40 are also advised to have breast examinations and mammograms for breast cancer screening. Doctors may recommend annual examinations if there is a family history of breast cancer.
9. Mental and Cognitive Status Examination Cognitive and mental health status examinations are conducted to screen for dementia and depression in the elderly. The examination is done using simple modalities such as MMSE (Mini Mental State Examination) and GDS (Geriatric Depression Scale).

Author: Dr. Deni Ariani (Medical Services Doctor at PRAMITA Clinical Laboratory, Jl. Kelapa Dua Raya No. 18 Jakarta)