Alcohol use: risk assessment for people with hypertension
Indicator
The percentage of patients with a new diagnosis of hypertension in the preceding 12 months who have been screened for hazardous drinking using the FAST or AUDIT-C tool in the 3 months before or after the date of entry on the hypertension register.
Indicator type
General practice indicator suitable for use in the Quality and Outcomes Framework.
This document does not represent formal NICE guidance. For a full list of NICE indicators, see our menu of indicators.
To find out how to use indicators and how we develop them, see our NICE indicator process guide.
Rationale
This indicator is intended to identify those people who have been screened for hazardous drinking in order to more effectively treat their hypertension. Tools such as AUDIT-C and FAST can help to identify people that may not be alcohol dependent but would benefit from reducing their alcohol consumption.
Source guidance
Hypertension in adults: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline NG136 (2019), recommendations 1.4.1 and 1.4.3
Alcohol-use disorders: prevention. NICE guideline PH24 (2010), recommendation 9
Specification
Numerator: The number of patients in the denominator who have been screened for hazardous drinking using the FAST or AUDIT-C tool in the 3 months before or after the date of entry on the hypertension register.
Denominator: The number of patients with a new diagnosis of hypertension in the preceding 12 months.
Calculation: Numerator divided by the denominator, multiplied by 100.
Exclusions: Patients with an existing diagnosis of an alcohol related disease or disorder.
Minimum population: The indicator would be appropriate to assess performance at individual general practice level.
ISBN: 978-1-4731-5970-9