Comparing audits of cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes in primary care

Regular audit of clinical standards with appropriate audit standards encourages small but sustainable improvements in care. The National Service Framework for Diabetes in England and Wales, and the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland, have generated a great number of proposals for improvements in the delivery and documentation of cardiovascular disease prevention in diabetes. In the future, advances in information technology and managed clinical networks are proposed to facilitate improvement in diabetes care. This article describes how, over the last few years, some cardiovascular aspects of diabetes care, including blood pressure control and aspirin/statin prescription, have been monitored and improved in general practice in a deprived area.