[Yield of a coronary arteriography database. A study of 5.536 registrations at the cardiologic laboratory, Rigshospitalet].

Introduction: Coronary arteriography (CAG) is an expensive investigation that provides potentially valuable information, but also carries a risk of severe complications. It is therefore natural to examine the usefulness of an existing database on CAG.

Methods: The analysis covers all registrations of CAG entered into the database at the Heart Centre at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, from April 1999 to September 2000.

Results: Altogether, 5536 CAGs were registered. The indication was stable coronary artery disease in 52.0% and acute ischaemic heart disease in 25.5%. As an example of the medical information available from the data base, it is notable that left main coronary stenosis or three-vessel disease, conditions in which coronary bypass surgery increases long-term survival, was found in 42.4% of patients with angina pectoris in Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) class 4, but also in 24.4% of patients in CCS class 1.

Discussion: Clinical databases, such as the one presented, can ensure that all relevant information is stored, and in this case even results in enhanced effectiveness, because data may be directly transformed into other formats, such as charts. The database furthermore provides clinical information, for instance that the severity of angina pectoris cannot identify the most ill patients in whom a CABG is potentially life-prolonging. In addition, the database provides administrative data that is used in the training of doctors, evaluation of referral patterns, surveillance of complications, and in the daily administration and planning.