The effect of the UK incentive-based contract on the management of patients with coronary heart disease in primary care.

Background: The new General Medical Services (nGMS) contract was introduced in April 2004 to improve care of chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease (CHD) and reduce differences in treatment between patient subgroups.

Objective: To determine whether the recording of CHD-related health indicators and prescribing of medicines have increased following the introduction of the nGMS contract and whether differences in the treatment of patients of differing age, gender and deprivation have been affected.

Methods: A serial cross-sectional study carried out with 310 general practices in Scotland.