The Danish Vascular Registry, Karbase

Abstract

AimThe Danish Vascular Registry (DVR), Karbase, is monitoring arterial and advanced vein interventions conducted at all vascular departments in Denmark. The main aim of the DVR is to improve the quality of treatment for patients undergoing vascular surgery in Denmark by using the registry for quality assessment and research.Study populationAll patients undergoing vascular interventions (surgical and endovascular) at any vascular department in Denmark are registered in the DVR. The DVR was initiated in 1989, and each year, ∼9,000 procedures are added. By January 2016, >180,000 procedures have been recorded. Since 2001, data completeness has been >90% (compared to the Danish National Patient Register).Main variablesVariables include information on descriptive patient data (ie, age, sex, height, and weight) and comorbidity (ie, previous cardiovascular disease and diabetes). Process variable includes waiting time (time from event to medical contact and treatment) and the type of procedures conducted. Outcome variables for in-hospital complications (ie, wound complications, myocardial infarction, stroke, amputation, respiratory complications, and renal insufficiency) and 30-day patency are submitted. Variables for medical treatment (antithrombotic and statin treatment), amputation, and survival are extracted from nationwide, administrative registers.ConclusionThe DVR reports outcome on key indicators for monitoring the quality at all vascular departments in Denmark for the purpose of quality improvement. Furthermore, data are available for research and are being used in international collaborations on changes in clinical practices.

Danish Trends in Major Amputation After Vascular Reconstruction in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease 2002–2014

“…One of the key strengths of the study is the combination of national governmental and clinical registries. Mandatory contributions from all seven Danish vascular centres results in high reliability and validity for the Danish Vascular Registry 10 and thus excludes selection bias.…”

Prehospital point‐of‐care ultrasound in ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms—a retrospective cohort study

“…During admission, physicians are responsible for recording and documenting all procedures and diagnoses in accordance with the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Patients were identified in the Central Denmark Region hospital database and cross matched with the Danish Vascular Registry, Karbase 20 . To ensure data completeness, surgery charts covering the five‐year time span of the two hospitals in Central Denmark Region performing vascular treatment were screened manually.…”

“…Patients were identified in the Central Denmark Region hospital database and cross matched with the Danish Vascular Registry, Karbase. 20 To ensure data completeness, surgery charts covering the five-year time span of the two hospitals in Central Denmark Region performing vascular treatment were screened manually. Data was obtained from the hospital electronic health record (Midt EPJ, Systematics, Aarhus Denmark) and the prehospital electronic health record (PPJ, Systematics, Aarhus, Denmark).…”

“…We thank Danish Vascular Registry, Karbase 20 for providing data for this article. Morten Thingemann Bøtker authors e‐learning on point of care ultrasound for http://usabcd.org, for which he receives royalties.…”

Revascularisation for Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease: External Applicability of the VOYAGER PAD Trial

“…Data were retrieved from a dedicated vascular registry with mandatory reporting. 13,14 All Danish citizens have access to universal public healthcare free of charge, and insurance does not restrict who can attend hospitals. It is therefore assumed that the DVR is a representative population, to evaluate external applicability.…”