title: 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Stockholm County Drug and Therapeutics Committee.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hasselström
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zarrinkoub
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Holmquist
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hjerpe
authors.forename: Charlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ljungman
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qvarnström
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wettermark
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Manhem
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kahan
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bengtsson Boström
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents