title: Exploring electronic health records as a population health surveillance tool of cardiovascular disease risk factors.
abstract: The objective of this study was to examine the utility of using electronic health record (EHR) data for periodic community health surveillance of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors through 2 research questions. First, how many years of EHR data are needed to produce reliable estimates of key population-level CVD health indicators for a community? Second, how comparable are the EHR estimates relative to those from community screenings? The study takes place in the context of the Heart of New Ulm Project, a 10-year population health initiative designed to reduce myocardial infarctions and CVD risk factor burden in a rural community. The community is served by 1 medical center that includes a clinic and hospital. The project screened adult residents of New Ulm for CVD risk factors in 2009. EHR data for 3 years prior to the heart health screenings were extracted for patients from the community. Single- and multiple-year EHR prevalence estimates were compared for individuals ages 40-79 years (N=5918). EHR estimates also were compared to screening estimates (N=3123). Single-year compared with multiyear EHR data prevalence estimates were sufficiently precise for this rural community. EHR and screening prevalence estimates differed significantly-systolic blood pressure (BP) (124.0 vs. 128.9), diastolic BP (73.3 vs. 79.2), total cholesterol (186.0 vs. 201.0), body mass index (30.2 vs. 29.5), and smoking (16.6% vs. 8.2%)-suggesting some selection bias depending on the method used. Despite differences between data sources, EHR data may be a useful source of population health surveillance to inform and evaluate local population health initiatives.
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Applied Research, Allina Health , Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Abbey C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Sidebottom
authors.forename: Pamela Jo
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Jeffrey J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: VanWormer
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sillah
authors.forename: Tamara J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Winden
authors.forename: Jackie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Boucher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012424:Rural Population; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology