Quality standard

Quality statement 9 (placeholder): Identifying people with an estimated increased risk

Quality statement 9 (placeholder): Identifying people with an estimated increased risk

What is a placeholder statement?

A placeholder statement is an area of care that has been prioritised by the quality standards advisory committee but for which no source guidance is currently available. A placeholder statement indicates the need for evidence‑based guidance to be developed in this area.

Rationale

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death in the UK, and is a major cause of illness, disability and poor quality of life. To improve primary prevention, people at increased risk of CVD need to be identified and their risk factors managed in the most effective way. It is estimated that half of men over 50 and one‑fifth of women over 65 have a CVD risk of 20% or more. Current guidance recommends using a systematic strategy in primary care using electronic records to identify people with an estimated increased risk of CVD. However, clarification of the strategies to prioritise people for assessment was not included in guideline recommendations. Further guidance is needed on methods to use across the healthcare pathway to identify people with an estimated increased risk of CVD, how frequently this identification should be done and which healthcare professionals should carry it out.