Comprehensive Physicals: What a Full Physical Includes

A comprehensive physical (sometimes called an executive physical or annual physical) goes beyond routine GP visits to include comprehensive labs, imaging, and specialty assessments. This light guide identifies what should be included and where to access at fair cost.

Core Lab Panel

Comprehensive labs:

• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP): glucose, electrolytes, kidney, liver
• Lipid panel (total, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, ApoB)
• HbA1c
• Vitamin D, B12, folate
• Thyroid (TSH, free T4)
• Iron studies (ferritin, iron, TIBC)
• High-sensitivity CRP
• HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B/C
• Inflammatory markers if indicated

Cost: $300-800 US; ¥600-1,500 China.

Imaging Components

Standard imaging:

• Chest X-ray or LDCT (LDCT for smokers)
• Abdominal ultrasound: liver, kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder
• Thyroid ultrasound (for nodule screening)
• Carotid Doppler (vascular screening)
• Bone density (DEXA) for postmenopausal women or men >65

Optional add-ons:
- Whole-body MRI (premium): $1,500-6,000 US; ¥3,500-8,000 China
- Coronary CT angiography
- Cardiac MRI

Cardiac Assessment

• Resting ECG
• Echocardiogram
• Exercise stress test (or stress echo)
• Coronary calcium (CAC) score
• BNP if indicated

GI Endoscopy

For patients over 45 (or earlier with family history):

• Upper GI endoscopy (gastroscopy): every 3-5 years
• Colonoscopy: every 5-10 years depending on findings

In China, "painless GI endoscopy" with brief sedation combines both same-day for ¥1,800-4,500.

Cancer Screening

Sex-specific cancer screening:

Women:
- Mammography or breast ultrasound
- Pap smear + HPV testing
- Pelvic ultrasound (uterus, ovaries)
- Thyroid ultrasound

Men:
- PSA (with shared decision-making about screening risks/benefits)
- Prostate ultrasound (in some packages)
- Testicular exam

Both:
- Skin exam (or dermatology referral)
- Tumor marker panel (CEA, AFP, CA19-9, CA125 women, PSA men, CA15-3 women)

Body Composition and Bone

• DEXA bone density and body composition
• BMI, waist circumference
• Sometimes: VAT (visceral adipose tissue) measurement
• Hand grip strength
• Sometimes: VO2 max testing

Mental Health and Sleep

• PHQ-9 (depression) and GAD-7 (anxiety) screening
• Cognitive screening in older adults
• Sleep questionnaire (STOP-BANG)
• Home sleep study if STOP-BANG positive

For matching a comprehensive physical to your specific risk profile, our team can help.

Tier-Based Pricing in China

Top Chinese international hospitals offer tiered executive physical packages:

• Basic (¥3,000-5,000 / $430-715): labs + chest CT + abdominal ultrasound + cardiac basics
• Comprehensive (¥8,000-15,000 / $1,140-2,140): adds GI endoscopy + cardiac CT + comprehensive markers
• Executive (¥18,000-35,000 / $2,570-5,000): adds whole-body MRI + multidisciplinary consults + premium services

Comparison vs US Programs

Program	Duration	Cost
Mayo Clinic Executive Health	1-2 days	$5,000-8,000
Cleveland Clinic Executive	1-2 days	$5,500-9,000
Cooper Clinic Dallas	1 day	$3,500-5,500
Princeton Longevity Center	1 day	$5,500-8,500
PUMC International Health Beijing	1-2 days	¥8,000-18,000 ($1,140-2,570)
Ruijin International Shanghai	1-2 days	¥9,000-20,000 ($1,290-2,860)
HKU-Shenzhen Executive	1 day	¥7,000-15,000 ($1,000-2,140)

Mainland China offers comprehensive quality at 25-50% of US cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I do this annually?
Most experts: biennial for healthy adults under 60, annual for higher-risk. Specific components (LDCT, colonoscopy) follow their own intervals.

Is whole-body MRI worth it?
Controversial. Detects many incidentalomas requiring follow-up. For low-risk asymptomatic adults, value is unclear. For higher-risk individuals (family cancer history), benefit may be clearer.

Will my US insurance pay for this?
Individual components when ordered by primary care are often covered. Bundled "executive physical" programs typically self-pay or paid by employer.

Are Chinese executive physicals comparable to Mayo?
At top centers (PUMC, Ruijin, HKU-Shenzhen, Fudan), yes. Comprehensive evaluation, English service, modern equipment.

Need Help Booking?

SinoCareLink can pre-book a comprehensive executive physical at a top Chinese hospital, customize components to your risk profile, translate reports into English, and arrange airport pickup. Contact us for a free consultation.