BPR
Blood tests by group

Blood tests for men from 60

After 60, high cholesterol, kidney changes and low B12 become more common, often without symptoms. A blood test shows your numbers for you and your GP.

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Watch: the why in a minute

Men 60 and over

1 minute 5 seconds

Why it makes sense at this stage

What the research supports, with the source of each point at the bottom of the page.

  1. 01

    The NHS Health Check runs to 74, and men over 50 are more likely to have high cholesterol

    Every 5 years the NHS offers a cholesterol test, and possibly a blood sugar test, looking at heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and kidney disease. High cholesterol gives no symptoms.[1, 2]

  2. 02

    Low B12 becomes more common after 65

    In 3,511 people in the UK aged 65 or over, it went from about 1 in 20 at 65 to 74 to 1 in 10 or more from 75. Metformin and acid reflux tablets can lower it.[3, 4]

  3. 03

    Early kidney disease gives no warning

    There are usually no symptoms in the early stages. It is linked to getting older, high blood pressure and diabetes.[5]

  4. 04

    PSA is a choice to make with your GP, not a routine test

    Routine PSA testing is not offered on the NHS, but you can ask your GP. In large trials, PSA screening made at most a small difference to prostate cancer deaths over 10 years, did not change overall deaths, and has harms to weigh.[6, 7]

  5. 05

    Being fit does not switch off heart risk

    The NHS suggests at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week from 65. In athletes over 35, more than 80% of sudden cardiac deaths come from disease of the heart arteries, and guidelines use cholesterol in the risk score. In a UK study, long-time male endurance athletes had more artery plaques than inactive men (44.3% against 22.2%), mostly calcified; what that means is still uncertain.[8, 9, 10]

The tests and why

What usually makes sense for this group. Your GP can tell you what fits your own case.

Cholesterol profile

Men over 50 are more likely to have high cholesterol, and it gives no symptoms.[1, 2]

When to repeat: Every 5 years at the NHS Health Check up to 74, or as your GP advises.

HbA1c (average blood sugar)

Blood sugar can be part of the NHS Health Check. Type 2 diabetes does not always cause symptoms.[1, 11]

When to repeat: Every 5 years at the NHS Health Check, or as your GP advises.

Kidney function (creatinine, eGFR)

Early kidney disease usually has no symptoms and is linked to getting older.[5]

When to repeat: With your cholesterol; more often with high blood pressure or diabetes.

Vitamin B12 and folate

Low B12 becomes more common after 65, and metformin and acid reflux tablets can lower it.[3, 4]

When to repeat: As your GP advises; more often on metformin or reflux tablets.

Full blood count and ferritin

Shows anaemia, which can come from low iron or low B12.[3, 12]

When to repeat: With your B12.

Vitamin D, 25(OH)D

The NHS suggests vitamin D all year for people who are not often outdoors.[13]

When to repeat: Once in late winter.

TSH and free T4 (thyroid)

Thyroid problems become more common with age.[14]

When to repeat: If you have symptoms, or as your GP advises.

Total and free testosterone (only with symptoms)

Testosterone falls with age. It is worth measuring, in the morning, if you have symptoms such as low sex drive or fewer morning erections.[15, 16]

When to repeat: As your GP advises.

Total and free PSA

There is no routine PSA testing on the NHS. You can ask your GP; a high PSA does not mean cancer, and the test has benefits and harms to weigh.[6, 7]

When to repeat: Only after talking to your GP, who sets how often.

What a blood test can and cannot do

It can

  • Show your B12, which some common medicines lower
  • Show your cholesterol, blood sugar and kidneys, which give no early symptoms
  • Give you numbers to talk through with your GP

It cannot

  • Turn PSA into a routine check: it is a choice with your GP
  • Clear you to train or assess your heart: it shows risk factors
  • Promise energy, strength or sex drive from a testosterone result

Tests that cover these markers

Not sure which one? The guided check-up suggests a starting point in a few questions.

Find your check-up

Prices are in the app, once you have an account.

What to do with your result

Your result arrives in your account, with reference ranges. A value outside the range, or a symptom with a normal result, is a conversation with your GP: treatment and supplements are their call. Repeat the same test later to compare.

Take the guide with you

The reasons, the tests and every reference, in a few pages. Free to download, no email needed.

Guide in English (PDF) Guide in Portuguese (PDF)

See also

References

  1. 1.NHS. NHS Health Check. nhs.uk. 2026. www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/nhs-health-check/
  2. 2.NHS. High cholesterol. nhs.uk. 2026. www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-cholesterol/
  3. 3.Clarke R, Grimley Evans J, Schneede J, et al. Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency in later life. Age Ageing. 2004;33:34-41. doi:10.1093/ageing/afg109 PMID 14695861.
  4. 4.NHS. Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia: causes. nhs.uk. 2026. www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamin-b12-or-folate-deficiency-anaemia/causes/
  5. 5.NHS. Chronic kidney disease. nhs.uk. 2026. www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-disease/
  6. 6.NHS. PSA test. nhs.uk. 2026. www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/psa-test/
  7. 7.Ilic D, Djulbegovic M, Jung JH, et al. Prostate cancer screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2018;362:k3519. doi:10.1136/bmj.k3519 PMID 30185521.
  8. 8.NHS. Physical activity guidelines for older adults. nhs.uk. 2026. www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/physical-activity-guidelines-older-adults/
  9. 9.Pelliccia A, Sharma S, Gati S, et al. 2020 ESC Guidelines on sports cardiology and exercise in patients with cardiovascular disease. Eur Heart J. 2021;42:17-96. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa605 PMID 32860412.
  10. 10.Merghani A, Maestrini V, Rosmini S, et al. Prevalence of Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease in Masters Endurance Athletes With a Low Atherosclerotic Risk Profile. Circulation. 2017;136:126-137. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.116.026964 PMID 28465287.
  11. 11.NHS. Type 2 diabetes: symptoms. nhs.uk. 2026. www.nhs.uk/conditions/type-2-diabetes/symptoms/
  12. 12.NHS. Iron deficiency anaemia. nhs.uk. 2026. www.nhs.uk/conditions/iron-deficiency-anaemia/
  13. 13.NHS. Vitamin D. nhs.uk. 2026. www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/
  14. 14.Vanderpump MP, Tunbridge WM, French JM, et al. The incidence of thyroid disorders in the community: a twenty-year follow-up of the Whickham Survey. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1995;43:55-68. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2265.1995.tb01894.x PMID 7641412.
  15. 15.Feldman HA, Longcope C, Derby CA, et al. Age trends in the level of serum testosterone and other hormones in middle-aged men: longitudinal results from the Massachusetts male aging study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002;87:589-598. doi:10.1210/jcem.87.2.8201 PMID 11836290.
  16. 16.Wu FC, Tajar A, Beynon JM, et al. Identification of late-onset hypogonadism in middle-aged and elderly men. N Engl J Med. 2010;363:123-135. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa0911101 PMID 20554979.

General information, not personal medical advice. Talk to your GP about your own situation. Questions: write to [email protected] or message us in the app.