The Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database (SPCCD): 74 751 hypertensive primary care patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database, SPCCD. Design. Longitudinal data from electronic medical records, linked to national registers. Setting. 48 primary healthcare centres in urban (south-western Stockholm) and rural (Skaraborg) regions in Sweden. Subjects. Patients diagnosed with hypertension 2001-2008. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood pressure (BP) and impact of retrieval of data on BP levels, clinical characteristics, co-morbidity and pharmacological treatment. RESULTS: The SPCCD contains 74 751 individuals, 56% women. Completeness of data ranged from > 99% for drug prescriptions to 34% for smoking habits. BP was recorded in 98% of patients during 2001-2008 and in 63% in 2008. Mean BP based on the last recorded value in 2008 was 142 ± 17/80 ± 13 mmHg. Digit preference in BP measurements differed between the two regions, p < 0.001. Antihypertensive drugs were prescribed in primary healthcare to 88% of the patients in 2008; however, when all prescribers were included 96% purchased their drugs. Cardiovascular co-morbidity and diabetes mellitus were present in 28% and 22%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This large and representative database shows that there is room for improvement of BP control in Sweden. The SPCCD will provide a rich source for further research of hypertension and its complications.