004B Routine QOF work | * Indicator Navigator | Cholesterol

004B Routine QOF work | * Indicator Navigator | Cholesterol

Cholesterol

This folder helps practices identify patients for opportunistic or end-of-year QOF work related to CHOL003 (statin treatment in high-risk patients) and CHOL004 (cholesterol control in treated patients). The searches support proactive intervention, coding reviews, and appropriate use of Personalised Care Adjustments (PCAs).

Info
Many of the reports include useful information relating to each patient such as current and past lipid lowering therapy, last cholesterol and LFT values, and co-morbidities.
Warning
The searches have been built to look at the contract year (1st April to 31st March), so it is recommended to run the search WITHOUT a relative run date.

🔍 [CHOL003] One invitation sent

Patients eligible for CHOL003 who have had one invitation to discuss or initiate lipid lowering therapy. A second invitation is required before exception reporting for non-response.

🔍 [CHOL003] Two invitations sent

Patients who have had two invitations and remain not on a statin. These are now eligible for exception coding under CHOL003.

🔍 [CHOL004] One invitation sent

Patients eligible for CHOL004 who have received one invitation for a cholesterol blood test. Sending a second invite allows for exception reporting if the patient does not engage. If the patient has had a raised cholesterol result recorded this year,  there must be at least two invitations after the most recent result.

🔍 [CHOL004] Two invitations sent

Patients with two invitations recorded but no cholesterol result. These can now be exception-coded under CHOL004.


🧾 ACTION | CHOL003 No lipids or LFTs in last 12m

Patients are showing as eligible for CHOL003, and are not currently taking any statin or alternative lipid lowering therapy. No cholesterol result has been recorded in the last rolling 12 months. These patients would be overdue a blood test, the results of which may trigger a renewed conversation about therapy.

🧾 ACTION | CHOL003 Recent blood test to initiate conversation about statin therapy

Patients are showing as eligible for CHOL003, and are not currently taking any statin or alternative lipid lowering therapy. A recent cholesterol result has been recorded in the last 3 months. The patient may already be being investigated with a view to a conversation about statin therapy, or alternatively use these results as a starting point for discussing therapy. If the patient declines therapy, a Personalised Care Adjustment code will remove them from the searches.

🧾 ACTION | CHOL004 On therapy but no lipids or LFTs in last 12m

Patients currently on lipid lowering therapy but no cholesterol result has been recorded in the last rolling 12 months. These cases may benefit from repeat testing or review of current therapy.

🧾 ACTION | CHOL004 On therapy with bloods in last 3m

Patients currently on lipid lowering therapy who have had bloods reported in the last 3 months. They have not yet achieved CHOL004 so the results are above the target threshold. These cases may benefit from repeat testing, or review of current therapy. Applying a Personalised Care Adjustment will remove patient from the searches.

🧾 CHECK BORDERLINE | Cholesterol LDL this year >2.0

Patients with LDL cholesterol above 2.0 this year. These cases may benefit from repeat testing, statin initiation, or review of current therapy.

🧾 CHECK BORDERLINE | Cholesterol LDL this year borderline

A subset of the above report, patients with LDL or nHDL results close to the target threshold (LDL 2.0 - 3.0 or nHDL 2.6 - 3.6). Worth reviewing or rechecking as treatment may be required depending on updated readings.


🧾 CONTROL | CHOL003 not on a statin no previous PCAs

Patients not on statin therapy and no PCA codes recorded. Useful group to target for either initiating statins or applying a valid exception code.


🧾 HIGH RISK | CHOL004 not on therapy, no result this year but previously raised

Patients not on therapyno result recorded this year, but with a previously raised cholesterol result. High-priority for testing, intervention, or coding action.

🧾 HIGH RISK | CHOL004 on therapy, no result this year but previously raised

Patients on lipid lowering therapyno result recorded this year, and previously had raised cholesterol. Should be followed up to confirm control and support CHOL004 achievement.


🧾 PCA CHECK | CHOL003 Not on a statin, CKD only over the age of 80

Patients aged 80+not on statin therapy, and only eligible for CHOL003 due to CKD. May be appropriate to apply a PCA based on age or clinical judgement.

🧾 PCA CHECK | CHOL003 Not on a statin previous PCA

Patients not on statins or alternative lipid lowering therapy, who have had a PCA previously. Review to confirm whether the exception still applies, or if statin therapy should now be considered.


🧾 QUICK WIN CODING | CHOL003 Not on a statin, CKD only over the age of 80

Patients over the age of 80 who are showing as eligible for CHOL003 solely due to CKD. Clinicians may wish to review this cohort of patients to see if they do want to consider prescribing statins, or if this is not required. 

🧾 QUICK WIN CODING | CKD only reason for eligible for CHOL003 and normal eGFR

Patients are showing as eligible for CHOL003 solely due to CKD, but have a normal eGFR. These are likely to be inappropriately coded.

  • Action: Recode CKD classification based on current renal function. If CKD is no longer clinically appropriate, correcting the code may remove the patient from CHOL003, avoiding unnecessary follow-up

🧾 QUICK WIN CODING | Statin PCA this year but not a wider lipid therapy PCA

Patients who are not on any lipid lowering therapy, with a statin PCA such as 'Statin declined' recorded this year. This is insufficient to remove them from the CHOL003 indicator.

  • Action: Add a lipid lowering therapy PCA such as 'Lipid lowering therapy declined'.


🧾 QUICK WIN VALUE | CHOL004 on therapy, no result this yr and previously normal

Patients on statin therapyno lipid result this year, but previous result was normal. These are ideal for opportunistic testing — likely to meet CHOL004 with one up-to-date result.

🧾 QUICK WIN VALUE | CHOL004 not on therapy, no result this yr and previously normal

Patients not on a statinno lipid result this year, but previous results were in range. May still be low-risk. A repeat lipid test could confirm if statin treatment or PCA is appropriate.



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