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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of death in the UK, accounting for over 190,000 deaths each year: 1 in 3 of all deaths.¹ Coronary heart disease (CHD) is responsible for 46% of these CVD-related deaths and, by itself, CHD is the most common cause of death in the UK.¹

Improving the quality of CHD services and care has been a priority for over a decade: a strategy to modernise CHD services over 10 years was set out in the National service framework for coronary heart disease in 2000² and CHD clinical indicators have been included in the quality and outcomes framework (QOF) since it was first introduced as part of the GMS contract in 2004.³ This raises a number of questions: Is quality of care improving? How are practices performing in the CHD category of the QOF? How have the indicators changed in line with current evidence?

Dr Alan Begg, GP in Montrose and Chair of the SIGN CHD Steering Group, addresses these issues in his article this month on the CHD 2011/12 clinical indicators. Dr Begg lists the NICE guidelines that relate to the QOF indicators in CHD and also provides his opinion as to whether the QOF has driven the uptake of secondary prevention measures for CHD.

This month has also seen the acceptance by NHS Employers and the British Medical Association of the recommendations put forward by NICE earlier this year for inclusion of new clinical indicators in QOF 2012/13.⁴ Two new disease areas—osteoporosis and peripheral arterial disease—will now be included in the clinical indicators. In addition, seven indicators, including CHD13, will be retired. Further details on the changes to QOF for 2012/13 can be found in this month’s news section overleaf.G

Julia Morris, Editor
julia.morris@mgp.ltd.uk

References

1. British Heart Foundation. Coronary heart disease statistics 2010. London: BHF, 2010. Available at: www.bhf.org.uk/publications/view-publication.aspx?ps=1001546
2. Department of Health. National service framework for coronary heart disease. London: DH, 2000. Available at: www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4094275
3. NHS Employers website. Introducing QOF 2004. www.nhsemployers.org/PayAndContracts/GeneralMedicalServicesContract/QOF/Pages/Rewarding-QOF.aspx (accessed 9 November 2011).
4. NHS Employers website.Contract changes 2012/13. www.nhsemployers.org/PayAndContracts/GeneralMedicalServicesContract/GMSContractChanges/Pages/Contractchanges201213.aspx (accessed 9 November 2011).