Heart Screening in Singapore
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Singapore, and much of it is silent until the first heart attack. The purpose of heart screening is to find risk early, while it is still cheap and easy to treat, and to give you a clear plan rather than a stack of numbers.
This page explains which tests actually matter, who should be screened and when, what a screening visit at the clinic involves, and what it costs. I have written a longer article on comparing heart screening packages if you want the detail.
Who should have a heart screening?
- Anyone aged 40 or over who has never had a cardiovascular risk assessment (earlier, from 30, if there are risk factors)
- A family history of heart attack, stroke, or sudden death, especially before 60
- High cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes or pre-diabetes, or excess weight around the waist
- Current or former smokers
- South Asian ancestry, which carries a higher risk at a younger age and lower body weight
- Anyone starting a serious exercise programme in mid-life, or with symptoms on exertion
- People who simply want an evidence-based baseline and a plan
Which tests are included?
A good screening is layered: everyone needs the foundations, and further tests are added according to risk rather than sold as a bundle.
Foundation (everyone):
- Consultation and examination, blood pressure and waist measurement
- Blood tests: lipid panel including ApoB, Lipoprotein(a) (once in a lifetime), HbA1c and fasting glucose, kidney function, and where relevant hs-CRP
- Resting ECG
- A formal 10-year and lifetime risk estimate, and a written plan
Added according to risk or symptoms:
- Echocardiogram: heart structure, valves and pumping function
- Treadmill stress test or stress echo: how the heart copes with exertion
- Coronary calcium score and, where indicated, a CT coronary angiogram: the amount of plaque actually present
- Carotid ultrasound (CIMT): early plaque in the neck arteries
- Ambulatory blood pressure or Holter monitoring where readings or palpitations need clarifying
Why ApoB and Lp(a)? Standard cholesterol tests miss a meaningful share of people who go on to have heart attacks. ApoB counts the actual number of artery-clogging particles, and Lp(a) is an inherited risk factor that around one in five people carry without knowing. Both are inexpensive and change management.
What happens at a screening visit?
All of the tests above are available in the clinic at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, or nearby, so a screening is normally completed in one visit of about two hours, with bloods sent the same morning. Imaging results are reviewed on the day, or within 1-2 days. We then meet again, in person or by video, to go through everything: what your numbers mean, what your actual risk is, and what, if anything, to do about it. You leave with a written report and a plan, not just a list of results.
How much does heart screening cost in Singapore?
Costs depend on which tests are appropriate for you. As a guide, a foundation screening with consultation, bloods and ECG is in the region of S$450-700; adding an echocardiogram and treadmill test takes a comprehensive screening to roughly S$1000, and a CT calcium score or CT coronary angiogram adds to that. We quote the fee before you book, and I would rather you had the right tests than the biggest package.
Screening is generally not covered by MediShield Life or MediSave, and insurance cover for preventive screening varies by plan; tests ordered to investigate symptoms are treated differently. See my guide to insurance and cardiac care in Singapore.
After the screening
Most people fall into one of three groups: low risk and reassured, with a repeat interval agreed; risk factors that need treatment, where the plan is usually lifestyle change plus medication with a follow-up to confirm the numbers are on target; or a finding that needs further tests, which we arrange promptly. My heart disease prevention guide covers what the targets are and why.
Not sure where to start? Download my free cardiac screening checklist, which lists the tests to ask for at any age.
Book a heart screening
No referral is needed. Fasting is not required for the blood tests we use, so a morning or afternoon appointment both work.
If you would like to arrange this at the clinic, I see patients at the Harley Street Heart and Vascular Centre, Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, Orchard. You can contact us online, message us on WhatsApp, or call +65 6235 5300. Most appointments are available within 1–2 days.
Written by Dr Michael Ross MacDonald MB ChB, BSc (Hons), FRCP (UK), MD (Research), FESC (Europe). Senior Consultant Cardiologist at the Harley Street Heart and Vascular Centre, Singapore. About Dr MacDonald.
This page is general information, not a substitute for individual medical advice. If you have symptoms such as chest pain, breathlessness, or fainting, seek medical care promptly, and in an emergency call 995.
Frequently asked questions
At what age should I start heart screening in Singapore?
For most people, from 40, and from 30 if there is a family history of early heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or smoking. A single Lp(a) test is worthwhile at any adult age.
How often should heart screening be repeated?
It depends on the result. Low-risk adults typically repeat blood tests and blood pressure every 2 to 3 years. People on treatment for risk factors are reviewed more often, usually every 6 to 12 months.
Is a heart screening covered by insurance in Singapore?
Preventive screening is usually not covered by MediShield Life or MediSave, and cover under Integrated Shield Plans and corporate or international policies varies. Tests ordered to investigate symptoms or a known condition are more commonly covered.
Do I need to fast before heart screening?
Not for the lipid and glucose tests we use; non-fasting lipid panels are now standard. If a fasting glucose is specifically needed, we will tell you in advance.
What is the difference between a health screening and a heart screening?
A general health screening samples many organ systems briefly. A cardiologist-led heart screening focuses on cardiovascular risk in depth, including tests such as ApoB, Lp(a), calcium scoring and echocardiography that general packages usually omit, and ends with a cardiologist’s interpretation and plan.