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Table 3 Process of care measures for ABCS

From: Advancing heart health in North Carolina primary care: the Heart Health NOW study protocol

Ischemic vascular disease (IVD): use of aspirin or another antithrombotic

Percentage of patients aged 18 years and older with ischemic vascular disease (IVD) with documented use of aspirin or other antithrombotic.

Aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease

Percentage of patients between the ages of 50 and 75 with an ASCVD risk score of ≥10 % who do not currently have ischemic vascular disease with documented aspirin use.

Blood pressure management: controlling high blood pressure

Percentage of patients aged 18 through 85 years of age with a diagnosis of hypertension (HTN) whose blood pressure (BP) was adequately controlled (<140/90) during the measurement year.

Blood pressure management: controlling high blood pressure

Percentage of patients aged 18 through 85 years of age with a diagnosis of HTN whose blood pressure was adequately controlled ( age 18–59 and/or people with diabetes or chronic kidney disease <140/90; age 60–85 < 150/90 ) during measurement year.

Statin therapy for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease

Percentage of the following patients—all considered at high risk of cardiovascular events—who were prescribed or were on statin therapy: adults ages ≥21 years who were previously diagnosed with or currently have an active diagnosis of clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD); or adults ages ≥21 years with a fasting or direct low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level ≥190 mg/dL; or adults ages 40–75 years with a diagnosis of diabetes with a fasting or direct LDL-C level of 70–189 mg/dL.

Risk-based statin therapy

Percentage of patients aged 40 through 79 years of age whose Calculated Risk Score is 10 % or greater and are on a statin.

Assessment of cardiovascular risk

Percentage of patients ages 40–79, with no evidence of prior cardiovascular event, who have documentation of required elements for cardiovascular risk assessment.

Tobacco use screening

Percentage of patients aged 18 years or older who were seen for at least 2 office visits within 12 months and who were queried about tobacco use one or more times within 24 months PQRS 226 Part A (modified).

Smoking cessation support

Percentage of patients aged 18 years and older identified as tobacco users within the past 24 months and seen for at least 2 office visits within 12 months who received cessation intervention within 24 months PQRS 226 Part B (modified).

  1. The ischemic vascular disease use of aspirin, blood pressure management 1, tobacco use screening, and smoking cessation support measures are PQRS measures with defined measure specifications [27]. The aspirin for primary prevention, blood pressure management 2, statin for primary prevention, risk-based statin therapy, and cardiovascular risk assessment measures reflect newer evidence-based guidelines