Non-cardiac arterial disease in Catalonia: patient profiles and quality of clinical records by characteristics of the Vascular Surgery Unit.
OBJECTIVE
Non-cardiac arterial disease (NCAD) is a frequent cause of hospital admission. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in patient profiles and clinical records as a function of the size of the Vascular Surgery Unit (VSU).


METHODS
Retrospective observational study. Stratified cluster sampling and selection of patients hospitalized for NCAD.


METHODS
1) description of patient profiles, quality of clinical records, and VSU [availability of diagnostic (DR) and therapeutic (TR) resources, and of written protocols (WP)]; 2) association between these variables and size of VSU.


RESULTS
The sample consisted of 14 hospitals, 6 with a VSU of 15 or fewer beds (VSU < or = 15B) and 8 with >15 beds (VSU >15B). The mean number of DRs, TRs and WPs was 9, 2.8 and 2 in VSUs < or = 15B, and 11.5, 6.5 and 3.3 in VSUs >15B. The proportion of patients older than 70, female, with ischemic disease, or with coexisting diabetes was significantly higher in VSUs < or = 15B (67%, 31%, 95% and 57%, respectively) than in VSUs >15B (58%, 22%, 69% and 48%). Comorbid conditions and treatment during admission and at discharge were documented significantly less frequently in the clinical records in VSUs < or = 15B. Risk factors were under-reported in the clinical records of both types of VSU.


CONCLUSIONS
Patient profiles and the quality of clinical records vary by size of VSU. Under-reporting of risk factors may hinder the implementation of prevention and treatment measures.
Cairols Castellote
M A
MA
Catalan Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery, Barcelona, Spain. daguilar@taiss.com
Riera Batalla
S
S
Lazaro Y De Mercado
P
P
Aguilar Conesa
M D
MD
Garcia De Yebenes Y Prous
M J
MJ
D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003935:Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards*; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology