Nigel Hague

A method of identifying and correcting miscoding, misclassification and misdiagnosis in diabetes: a pilot and validation study of routinely collected data

Diabet. Med. 27, 203–209 (2010)

The QICKD study protocol: a cluster randomised trial to compare quality improvement interventions to lower systolic BP in chronic kidney disease (CKD) in primary care

BackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) is a relatively newly recognised but common long-term condition affecting 5 to 10% of the population. Effective management of CKD, with emphasis on strict blood pressure (BP) control, reduces cardiovascular risk and slows the progression of CKD. There is currently an unprecedented rise in referral to specialist renal services, which are often located in tertiary centres, inconvenient for patients, and wasteful of resources. National and international CKD guidelines include quality targets for primary care. However, there have been no rigorous evaluations of strategies to implement these guidelines. This study aims to test whether quality improvement interventions improve primary care management of elevated BP in CKD, reduce cardiovascular risk, and slow renal disease progressionDesignCluster randomised controlled trial (CRT)MethodsThis three-armed CRT compares two well-established quality improvement interventions with usual practice. The two interventions comprise: provision of clinical practice guidelines with prompts and audit-based education.The study population will be all individuals with CKD from general practices in eight localities across England. Randomisation will take place at the level of the general practices. The intended sample (three arms of 25 practices) powers the study to detect a 3 mmHg difference in systolic BP between the different quality improvement interventions. An additional 10 practices per arm will receive a questionnaire to measure any change in confidence in managing CKD. Follow up will take place over two years. Outcomes will be measured using anonymised routinely collected data extracted from practice computer systems. Our primary outcome measure will be reduction of systolic BP in people with CKD and hypertension at two years. Secondary outcomes will include biomedical outcomes and markers of quality, including practitioner confidence in managing CKD.A small group of practices (n = 4) will take part in an in-depth process evaluation. We will use time series data to examine the natural history of CKD in the community. Finally, we will conduct an economic evaluation based on a comparison of the cost effectiveness of each intervention.Clinical Trials RegistrationISRCTN56023731. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier.

End-digit preference in blood pressure recordings of patients with ischaemic heart disease in primary care

End-digit preference describes the disproportionate selection of specific end digits. The rounding of figures might lead to either an under- or over-recording of blood pressure (BP) and a lack of accuracy and reliability in treatment decisions. A total of 85 000 BP values taken from computerised general practice records of ischaemic heart disease patients in England between 2001 and 2003 were examined. Zero preference accounts for 64% of systolic and 59% of diastolic readings, compared with an expected frequency of 10% (P<0.000001). Even numbers are more frequently seen than odd numbers. In all, 64% of nonzero systolic recordings and 65% of diastolic recordings ended in even numbers, compared with expected proportions of 44% (P<0.0001). Among the nonzero even numbers, eight is the most frequently observed: 28% of systolic and 31% of diastolic recordings compared with an expected proportion of 25% (P<0.0001). Among the five nonzero odd numbers, five is the most frequently observed end digit, representing 59% systolic and 62% of diastolic compared with an expected level of 20% (P<0.00001). English general practice displays marked end-digit preference. This is strongly for the end-digit zero. However, there is more use of other enddigits, notably 8 and 5. This bias potentially carries important treatment consequences for this high-risk population.

A study of cardiovascular risk in overweight and obese people in England

Objectives: To report current levels of obesity and associated cardiac risk using routinely collected primary care computer data. Methods: 67 practices took part in an educational intervention to improve computer data quality and care in cardiovascular disease. Data were extracted from 435 102 general practice computer records. 64.3% (229 108/362 861) of people age 15 y and older had a body mass index (BMI) recording or a valid height and weight record that enabled BMI to be derived. Data about cardiovascular disease and risk factors were also extracted. The prevalence of disease and the control of risk factors in the overweight and obese population were compared with those of normal body weight. Results: 56.8% of men and 69.3% of women aged over 15 y had a BMI record. 22% of men and 32.3% of women aged 15 to 24 y were overweight or obese; rising each decade to a peak of 65.6% of men and 57.5% of women aged 55 to 64 y. Thereafter, the proportion who were overweight or obese declined. The prevalence of ischaemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus and hypertension rose with increasing levels of obesity; their prevalence in those who are moderately obese was between two and three times that of the general population. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose even in non-diabetics, cholesterol and triglycerides were all elevated in the overweight and obese population. Conclusion: Based on the recorded data over half of men and nearly half of women are overweight or obese. They have increased cardiovascular risk, which is not adequately controlled by current practice.

Have the completeness and accuracy of computer medical records in general practice improved in the last five years? The report of a two-practice pilot study

Through its involvement in primary care groups (PCGs) general practice is destined to play a major role in the commissioning of UK National Health Service (NHS) services. If this objective is to be achieved then data will be required at PCG level from electronic patient records (EPRs). The aim of this study was to examine the completeness and accuracy of GP computer records over the last five years in two computerized practices. The objectives were: to establish whether data recording has improved; to discover whether cross-platform data extraction using MIQUEST (Morbidity Information Query Export Syntax) has advantages over the different in-system search tools provided in the EMIS and Meditel systems in our pilot practices; and to suggest how the potential of GP databases to be sources of valid data might be realized. We have demonstrated that high standards of data quality can be achieved in general practice and that there are benefits in using the cross-platform data extraction tool MIQUEST. While being vigilant of coding practices that may introduce systematic errors, data extractors should focus on data validation. We surmise that there are both human and technical barriers to achieving high quality data recording that need further research.

Abnormal lipids in high-risk patients achieving cholesterol targets: a cross-sectional study of routinely collected UK general practice data

ABSTRACT Background and objectives: Lipid management in UK general practice targets the achievement of total cholesterol (TC) targets in high-risk individuals. Statins alone have a modest effect on non-LDL-C components of the lipid profile, leaving these patients at significant residual cardiovascular (CV) risk. Improving risk further would require the addition of non-statin therapies. This analysis explores what proportion of the UK population with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and TC levels at or below target may still be at risk because of residual dyslipidaemia. Methods: CV risk profiles were extracted from a research database of 602 222 patients from 98 UK general practices. Patients were categorised according to their prior CV history and use of statins. Mean values and proportions achieving treatment targets were assessed for TC, low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG). Results: In all, 48 499 patients with pre-existing CVD or diabetes were identified. 73% of statin-treated patients and 63% of untreated patients had a TC ≤ 5 mmol/L. 28.6% of patients treated to a TC target had LDL-C > 3 mmol/L. Amongst those with both TC and LDL-C treated to target, 22.5% had low HDL-C and 37.2% had high triglyceride (TG). Within this group, more women than men had abnormal HDL-C (25.4 vs. 20.7% p < 0.0001). Patients with diabetes were more likely than non-diabetics to have abnormalities of both HDL-C (28.9 vs. 16.4% p < 0.0001) and triglyceride (44.9 vs. 29.5% p < 0.0001) despite normal TC and LDL-C. Conclusions: Around 60% of high-risk patients have residual dyslipidaemias despite achieving the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) TC target. New patterns of treatment are required in order to extend lipid management beyond simple total cholesterol lowering.

Reducing coronary risk by raising HDL-cholesterol: risk modelling the addition of nicotinic acid to existing therapy

ABSTRACT Background and objectives: Reduction in total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) forms one of the principal objectives of most cardiovascular secondary prevention strategies. Many patients being treated with statins, however, have significant residual dyslipidaemia, with many having suboptimal HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. The addition of nicotinic acid to a statin has been shown to improve this profile, although clinical outcome evidence is currently lacking. This study set out to model the impact of nicotinic acid therapy on cardiovascular risk in these patients, based on Framingham risk assessments on a cohort of patients drawn from UK general practitioner records. Methods: Cardiovascular risk profiles were extracted from a research database of 602 222 patients from 98 UK general practices. 23 262 statin-treated patients with established cardiovascular disease or diabetes were identified and their 4-year Framingham risk was estimated. Patients who had either TC or HDL-C outside the desirable range then had their lipid profile adjusted in accordance with the likely performance of nicotinic acid, and the Framingham risk was then re-assessed. Results: Baseline 4-year coronary risk in the group as a whole was 11.5% (95%CI: 11.4–11.6). After adjustment of the lipid profile, this was reduced to 9.7% (95%CI: 9.6–9.8), a reduction in risk of 15.9% (95%CI: 15.1–16.6). When modelling was limited to those with diabetes or an abnormal treated lipid profile, the magnitude of change was increased to 23–29% depending on sex and subgroup. Conclusions: Risk factor modelling suggests that raising HDL-C levels using nicotinic acid in statin-treated patients is likely to yield significant incremental clinical benefits. The results of clinical trials currently under way are awaited with interest.