Best practices for developing cardiovascular quality indicators.

The Canadian Heart Health Strategy and Action Plan recommended that the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) lead the development of pan-Canadian data definitions and quality indicators (QIs) for evaluating cardiovascular care in Canada. In response to this recommendation, the CCS developed and adopted a standardized QI development methodology. This report provides a brief overview of the CCS "Best Practices" for developing pan-Canadian cardiovascular QIs.

Quality of diabetes and hyperlipidemia screening before a first myocardial infarction.

Background: There has been significant attention to the quality of care for acute myocardial infarction (MI). However, little is known about the quality of preventive care before a patient's first MI.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, cohort analysis of 5688 patients admitted with their first MI to 96 acute care hospitals in Ontario, Canada, from April 2004 to March 2005 using the Enhanced Feedback For Effective Cardiac Treatment clinical study database.

Trends in the incidence and outcomes of heart failure in Ontario, Canada: 1997 to 2007.

Background: Heart failure is a leading cause of admission to hospital, but whether the incidence of heart failure is increasing or decreasing is uncertain. We examined temporal trends in the incidence and outcomes of heart failure in Ontario, Canada.

Methods: Using population-based administrative databases of hospital discharge abstracts and physician health insurance claims, we identified 419 551 incident cases of heart failure in Ontario between Apr.

Comparison of processes of care and clinical outcomes for patients newly hospitalized for heart failure attended by different physician specialists.

Background: Previous studies suggest that patients with heart failure (HF) treated by cardiologists have improved outcomes compared with patients treated by other physicians. It remains unclear whether these findings reflect differences in patient characteristics, processes of care, practice setting, or a combination of these factors.

Methods: We examined physician specialty-related differences in processes of care and clinical outcomes for 7,634 patients newly hospitalized for HF in Ontario, Canada, who were included in the EFFECT study between April 2004 and March 2005.

An international environmental scan of quality indicators for cardiovascular care.

Quality indicators (QIs) are increasingly being used to measure and improve the quality of cardiac care. We conducted an international environmental scan to identify and critically appraise published QI development initiatives addressing cardiovascular disease (CVD). A review of the peer-reviewed and grey English-language literature was conducted to identify published CVD QI development initiatives.

CIHI survey: Hospital costs for preterm and small-for-gestational age babies in Canada.

In 2006-2007, more than 54,000 (or one in seven) babies across Canada were born preterm or small for their gestational age (SGA). These babies are often at higher risk for morbidity and mortality than are full-term babies with normal birth weight, and account for a disproportionately high percentage of healthcare costs among newborns. This article highlights key findings from a recent report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information, Too Early, Too Small: A Profile of Small Babies across Canada, and provides information on the hospital costs among low birth weight, preterm and SGA babies.

Physician diagnostic and reporting practices for gastrointestinal illnesses in three health regions of British Columbia.

Objectives: To estimate seasonal proportions of patient visits due to acute gastrointestinal illness (GI), assess factors influencing physicians' stool sample requests, their understanding of laboratory testing protocols and adherence to provincial stool request guidelines in three British Columbia (BC) health regions.

Methods: During a one-year period, eligible physicians were mailed four self-administered questionnaires used to estimate proportions of patients diagnosed with GI, related stool sample requests in the preceding month, and to assess factors prompting stool sample requests.

Results: The response rate overall for the initial comprehensive questionnaire was 18.