Executive Medical Exam: Components You Should Demand

An "executive medical exam" should include substantially more than a routine GP visit. The premium pricing reflects the breadth of testing. If the components don't include the items below, the program may not justify its cost. This light guide identifies what should be in every executive medical exam.

Tier 1: Foundation Labs

Every executive exam should include:

• Complete blood count (CBC) with differential
• Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)
• Lipid panel + advanced (ApoB, Lp(a))
• HbA1c
• Thyroid (TSH, free T4, free T3, TPO antibodies)
• Vitamin D, B12, folate, iron studies
• High-sensitivity CRP
• Hormone panel age- and sex-appropriate (testosterone for men; estradiol/FSH for postmenopausal women if relevant)
• Hepatitis B and C screening
• HIV (per CDC age 13-64 recommendation)
• Syphilis (RPR) for high-risk
• Inflammation markers

If any of these are missing, ask why.

Tier 2: Cardiac Components

Standard cardiac:

• Resting 12-lead ECG
• Echocardiogram
• Coronary artery calcium (CAC) score
• Stress test (exercise or pharmacologic)

Optional advanced:
- Cardiac MRI (tissue characterization)
- Coronary CT angiography (CCTA)
- Holter monitor (if palpitations or syncope)

Tier 3: Cancer Screening

Age-appropriate cancer screening:

• Chest LDCT (smokers) or chest X-ray
• Abdominal ultrasound (liver, kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder)
• Thyroid ultrasound (nodules common in middle age)
• Tumor marker panel (CEA, AFP, CA19-9, CA125 women, PSA men, CA15-3 women)
• For women: mammogram or breast ultrasound, Pap + HPV testing
• For men: PSA discussion (shared decision-making)
• Colonoscopy (if age 45+)
• Skin exam

Tier 4: Body Composition and Bone

• DEXA bone density
• Body composition (visceral fat, muscle mass)
• BMI + waist circumference
• Vibration-controlled transient elastography (FibroScan) for liver fibrosis

Tier 5: Mental Health and Sleep

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

Tier 6: Lifestyle and Performance

Often included in premium programs:
- VO2 max testing (exercise capacity)
- Hand grip strength
- Posture and gait assessment
- Nutrition consult
- Performance-oriented testing

Tier 7: Advanced Optional Components

Premium add-ons:

• Whole-body MRI (¥3,500-8,000 China)
• Multi-gene cancer screening panel
• Comprehensive genetic testing
• Microbiome analysis
• Hormone optimization assessment
• Inflammation/longevity markers

For customizing executive exam components to your risk profile, our team can help.

What's Often Missing

Programs that skip these are providing less than the premium price suggests:

• Coronary CT calcium score
• Comprehensive thyroid (just TSH, not full panel)
• Advanced lipids (just basic lipid panel)
• Body composition (just BMI)
• Mental health screening
• Sleep assessment

Sample Chinese Executive Exam Components

PUMC Beijing International Health Center includes (¥10,000-18,000):

• 50+ blood and urine markers
• Chest LDCT
• Abdominal, thyroid, breast ultrasound
• ECG + echo + stress test
• CAC score
• Endoscopy (gastroscopy + colonoscopy)
• Tumor marker panel
• DEXA + body composition
• Multidisciplinary consultation
• English report

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this overkill for a healthy person?
Depends on age and risk profile. For adults over 45 with cardiac/family history risk, comprehensive evaluation catches treatable conditions early. For healthy 30-year-olds, routine GP visits are typically sufficient.

How often should I do this?
Most experts: biennial for healthy under 60, annual for higher-risk. Individual components have their own intervals.

Will my insurance pay for this?
Individual components when ordered by your physician are typically covered. Bundled executive programs are usually self-pay or employer-paid.

Are Chinese programs comprehensive?
At top tier-1 international centers, yes. Components match international standards. English service available.

Need Help Booking?

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