RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Spurious trends in coronary heart disease incidence: unintended consequences of the new GP contract?
JF British Journal of General Practice
JO Br J Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP 486
OP 489
VO 57
IS 539
A1 Iain M Carey
A1 Stephen DeWilde
A1 Tess Harris
A1 Peter H Whincup
A1 Derek G Cook
YR 2007
UL http://bjgp.org/content/57/539/486.abstract
AB Comparisons of the same patient data in 2004 and 2006 downloads of the DIN-LINK UK primary care database demonstrated unexpected differences in the rates of coronary heart disease between the datasets. Incidence rates were lower between 1996–2003 in the new (2006) download. Patient record checks demonstrated that coronary heart disease codes had been removed in the new download during the run-up to the new contract. Planners need to be aware of such issues when evaluating trends in CHD or other similar conditions.