Definitions of quality indicators and medium-term outcomes for the primary prevention of CVD in primary care
| QUALITY INDICATOR | DEFINITION | MEDIUM-TERM OUTCOMES* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATIENTS | PHYSICIANS | ||
| Obesity | Percentage of patients who had weight and height or waist circumference recorded on their charts | Have attempted to lose weight through diet, physical activity, or consultation with a dietitian or physical activity expert | Have discussed healthy weight loss through diet, physical activity, consultation with a dietitian, medication, or bariatric surgery |
| Alcohol consumption | Percentage of patients who had alcohol consumption recorded on their charts | Have decreased alcohol consumption to no more than 1 to 2 standard drinks/d6 Have attended an alcohol treatment program | Have discussed decreasing alcohol consumption to not exceed recommended daily intake Have prescribed medication for alcohol cessation Have referred the patient to alcohol treatment programs or resources |
| Smoking status | Percentage of patients who had smoking status recorded on their charts | NA | NA |
| Smoking cessation | Percentage of patients who are current smokers and had smoking cessation counseling or a referral for counseling recorded on their charts | Have quit smoking or attempted to quit smoking | Have discussed smoking cessation Have prescribed smoking cessation medication Have referred the patient to a behavioural program for smoking cessation |
| T2DM | Percentage of patients who had a fasting plasma glucose level recorded on their charts in the past 3 y† | Have attempted to improve diet or lose weight through increased physical activity Have seen a dietitian or physical activity expert | Have discussed diet or increased physical activity Have referred the patient to a dietitian Have prescribed hypoglycemic medication |
| Cholesterol | Percentage of patients who had lipid testing at least every 5 y recorded on their charts | Have attempted to improve diet or increase physical activity Have seen a dietitian or physical activity expert | Have discussed diet or increased physical activity Have referred the patient to a dietitian Have prescribed lipid-lowering medication |
| BP | Percentage of adult patients in the previous 3 y† whose BP measurements were recorded on their charts | Have checked BP at home Have improved diet or increased physical activity Have seen a dietitian or physical activity expert | Have discussed diet or increased physical activity Have referred the patient to a dietitian or physical activity expert |
| Follow-up for elevated BP | Percentage of patients with a systolic BP of 140 mm Hg to 159 mm Hg or diastolic BP of 90 mm Hg to 99 mm Hg who had follow-up visits within 6 mo of elevated BP measurement | NA | NA |
| Global risk | Percentage of patients for whom global risk assessments were recorded on their charts | NA | NA |
Adapted from Burge et al.7
BP—blood pressure, CVD—cardiovascular disease, NA—not applicable, T2DM—type 2 diabetes mellitus.
↵* Any positive response to a patient or physician outcome listed in the chart was treated as a positive result for medium-term outcomes.
↵† From January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2007, inclusive.