Cholesterol

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effect of the Quality and Outcome framework on cholesterol level since its introduction. (104373)

The quality and outcome framework (QOF) measures achievement against a scorecard of 146 indicators, with 76 indicators in the clinical domain. It includes three quality indicators for control of cholesterol in patients with coronary disease, stroke and diabetes. The following tables show the percentage of available points achieved against these indicators across England demonstrating that general practice practices are making good progress in improving control of cholesterol in patients with cardiovascular disease.

The applicable QOF indicators and the overall percentages are in the following tables.

*CHD 8—Percentage of patients with coronary heart disease whose last measured total cholesterol (measured in the last 15 months) is 5mmol/l or less*
QOF Year	Overall percentage CHD 8 for England
2004-05	72
2005-06	78

*Stroke 8—Percentage of patients with TIA or stroke whose last measured total cholesterol (measured in the last 15 months) is 5mmol/1 or less*
QOF Year	Overall percentage stroke 8 for England
2004-05	63
2005-06	72

*DM 17—Percentage of patients with diabetes whose last measured total cholesterol within previous 15 months is 5mmol/1 or less*
QOF Year	Overall percentage DM17 for England
2004-05	72
2005-06	79
Notes: Some patients may be excluded from the indicator because of exceptions and exclusions. Only patients registered with a general practice participating in QOF will be included.

Volume 454: debated on Wednesday 6 December 2006