An audit of hypertension in electronic medical records

To audit the documentation of medical care provided to hypertensive patients and to evaluate the management of hypertension in the department of internal medicine at the Ahmadi hospital, Kuwait. Retrospective study. Outpatient clinics, Department of Internal Medicine, Ahmadi Hospital, Kuwait Oil Company, Kuwait. An audit of electronic medical records [EMR] was carried out during 2012 on a representative sample of 150 patients, selected randomly using a simple randomization method. A re-auditing was done in 2013. McNemar's test was used to compare data in 2013 with data in 2012. Auditing of EMR. Recorded data of hypertensive patients. Age, gender, blood pressure recording, renal function tests, and lipid levels were accurately recorded [> 75%] in the computer system. History of pertinent symptoms and smoking were poorly recorded [< 1%]. Fifty-five percent of the hypertensive patients were sufficiently controlled [BP < 140/90 mmHg]. There were significant differences between 2012 and 2013 data with respect to documentation and recording of pertinent symptoms[p < 0.001] and renal function tests [p = 0.026]. Conducting an audit of EMR is essential to evaluate clinical performance and to determine what changes should be made to improve quality of care. There was significant improvement in documentation of pertinent symptoms in the second audit

prevalence of atrial fibrillation among acute medical admissions in Kuwait

To establish the prevalence of atrial fibrillation [AF] among acute medical admissions to the Adan Hospital, Kuwait, and to evaluate the clinical features of the patients. Subjects and Of 2,833 acute medical admissions to the Adan Hospital from January 1 to May 31, 2003, 120 patients with AF were included in the study. The patients were divided into paroxysmal or persistent [PPAF], and chronic atrial fibrillation [CAF]. The prevalence of stroke and clinical features of the CAF patients with and without strokes were studied. All the patients with AF underwent echocardiography to evaluate left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] and left atrial dimension [LAD]. The prevalence of AF in the study period was 4.24%, of which 68.3% had CAF and 31.7% had PPAF. The prevalence of heart failure, ischemic heart disease, systemic hypertension, and diabetes mellitus was 27.5, 55.8, 65.8, and 53.3%, respectively. Patients with CAF were older and had a higher prevalence of heart failure compared to PPAF patients. Of the patients with CAF, 26.8% had at least one episode of stroke. The CAF patients had lower LVEF and larger LAD than PPAF patients. Stroke patients with CAF had lower LVEF and larger LAD as compared to those without stroke. Atrial fibrillation is a common admission diagnosis in our hospital. Patients with AF commonly suffer from heart failure, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and ischemic heart disease. There was a high prevalence of stroke among CAF patients