Programs designed to track and monitor the quality of outpatient care for patients with cardiovascular disease are feasible even in resource-limited environments, according to an analysis of data from the ACC's PINNACLE India Quality Improvement Program (PIQIP) – India's first national outpatient quality-improvement program focused on cardiovascular disease.

Overall results found hypertension was present in almost 30 percent of patients, followed by diabetes, current tobacco use, and dyslipidemia. Coronary artery disease was present in 14.8 percent of patients, while heart failure was noted in 4 percent and atrial fibrillation was present in 0.5 percent of patients. Thirty-seven percent of AFib patients reported use of anticoagulants.

"In a country with a disproportionate provider/patient ratio and low levels of government funding for quality improvement, physician-driven initiatives for practice-based learning and improvement could be considered an unrealistic expectation," the study authors said. "PIQIP demonstrates the feasibility of data acquisition in this challenging environment."

Read more about the PIQIP project on the ACC in Touch Blog and check out the full story on ACC.org.