TABLE 12C. National Veterans Health Administration Data. The VA collects national quality performance data related to cardiovascular disease. Aggregate data from 158 VA hospitals for the period between January 2004 and March 2005 are listed below (Office of Quality and Performance, Veterans Health Administration). Only patients who were candidates for each quality indicator were considered (ie, patients with contraindications to a given therapy were not considered).

Percent of Inpatients Acute myocardial infarction     Aspirin within 24 hours of admission 97%     Aspirin at discharge 98%     ß-Blocker within 24 hours of admission 96%     ß-Blocker at discharge 98%     ACE inhibitor for patients with LVEF <40% 93%     Smoking cessation advice given 93% Heart failure     Documentation of LVEF 99%     ACE inhibitor for patients with LVEF <40% 93%     Complete discharge instructions 83%     Smoking cessation advice given 88% Hypertension     Blood pressure at goal (<140/90) 72% Cholesterol     Cholesterol screening in all patients 94%     Cholesterol measured after acute MI 96%     LDL cholesterol <100 mg/dL after acute MI 60%