How better data can help prevent heart attacks and strokes

When most people think about preventing heart attacks and strokes, they think about healthy eating, exercise, blood pressure and cholesterol. While these factors are important, there is another tool playing an increasingly important role in prevention: better use of practice data.

Through the PHASES (Preventing Heart Attacks and Stroke Events through Surveillance) initiative, Brisbane North PHN has been working alongside general practices to help identify patients who may be at increased cardiovascular risk before they experience a major cardiovascular event.

Many patients at risk of heart attack or stroke do not walk into a practice asking for a cardiovascular risk assessment. Some are busy, some feel well and others may have important risk factors that have not yet been recorded, updated or connected to form a complete picture of their cardiovascular risk.

PHASES has helped practices take a more proactive approach.

In the first stages of the program, practices focused on improving data quality and clinical coding to ensure information recorded in their clinical systems was accurate and usable. This creates a stronger foundation for identifying patients who may have unrecognised cardiovascular risk factors or gaps in care.

As practices progressed through the program, they began using tools such as the Primary Sense CVD reports to identify patients who may benefit from a cardiovascular risk assessment, Heart Health Check, review of risk factors or preventative care discussions.

A key feature of the program was the support provided by Brisbane North PHN's Quality Improvement and Development Engagement Officers, who worked directly with practices to help translate information into action. By visiting practices, understanding local workflows and supporting teams through quality improvement activities, they helped make cardiovascular prevention practical and achievable within everyday general practice.

The program also recognised that sustainable improvement requires investment in capability building. Rather than relying on financial incentives, participating practices were supported through practical resources and professional development opportunities, including ECG education and training. Looking ahead, Brisbane North PHN is also exploring the use of blood pressure monitors as an additional resource to support both practices and patients in managing cardiovascular risk.

Since implementation commenced, participation in PHASES quality improvement activities has grown steadily across the region, reflecting a shared commitment among general practice teams to improving heart health outcomes within their communities.

PHASES highlights an important message: preventing heart attacks and strokes is not only about treating disease. It is about finding risk earlier, using data more effectively, and supporting practice teams to turn information into action before a cardiovascular event occurs.

PHASES is an ongoing program and for practices who want to get involved, please visit the PHASES page on Practice Support for more information.