Cardiovascular disease treatment among patients with severe mental illness: a data linkage study between primary and secondary care

Woodhead, C., Ashworth, M., Broadbent, M., Callard, F. , Hotopf, M., Schofield, P., Soncul, M., Stewart, R. J. and Henderson, M. J. (2016) Cardiovascular disease treatment among patients with severe mental illness: a data linkage study between primary and secondary care. British Journal of General Practice, 66(647), e374-e381. (doi: 10.3399/bjgp16X685189) (PMID:27114210) (PMCID:PMC4871302)

Abstract

Background: Suboptimal treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among patients with severe mental illness (SMI) may contribute to physical health disparities. Aim: To identify SMI characteristics associated with meeting CVD treatment and prevention guidelines. Design and setting: Population-based electronic health record database linkage between primary care and the sole provider of secondary mental health care services in south east London, UK. Method: Cardiovascular disease prevalence, risk factor recording, and Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) clinical target achievement were compared among 4056 primary care patients with SMI whose records were linked to secondary healthcare records and 270 669 patients without SMI who were not known to secondary care psychiatric services, using multivariate logistic regression modelling. Data available from secondary care records were then used to identify SMI characteristics associated with QOF clinical target achievement. Results: Patients with SMI and with coronary heart disease and heart failure experienced reduced prescribing of beta blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEI/ARB). A diagnosis of schizophrenia, being identified with any indicator of risk or illness severity, and being prescribed with depot injectable antipsychotic medication was associated with the lowest likelihood of prescribing. Conclusion: Linking primary and secondary care data allows the identification of patients with SMI most at risk of undertreatment for physical health problems.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Callard, Professor Felicity
• Authors: Woodhead, C., Ashworth, M., Broadbent, M., Callard, F., Hotopf, M., Schofield, P., Soncul, M., Stewart, R. J., and Henderson, M. J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
• Journal Name: British Journal of General Practice
• Publisher: Royal College of General Practitioners
• ISSN: 0960-1643
• ISSN (Online): 1478-5242
• Published Online: 26 May 2016
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 British Journal of General Practice
• First Published: First published in British Journal of General Practice 66(647): e374-e381
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License