There are at least three sources of data for cardiovascular diseases: the BRFSS (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey), the Office of Health Care Access (OHCA) hospital discharge database, and the CT Hospital Association’s CHIME data. 

There is no known database for in-hospital acute myocardial infarction (AMI) clinical outcome data.  CHIME, National Registry of Myocardial Infarction and American College of Cardiology databases focus on in-hospital mortality only.

BRFSS is a randomized telephone survey which includes self-reported measures of the prevalence of cardiovascular disease.  Demographic data include age, race, gender, ethnicity and town of residence.  Data is available by hard copy, electronically and via the web.

OHCA’s hospital discharge database includes demographic and clinical information for patients who were admitted to the hospital. Demographic data includes age, race, ethnicity, gender, birth weight and date of birth).  Geographic identifiers included are town, state, zip code, and county.   Clinical information includes the discharge diagnosis.

The CT Hospital Association’s CHIME data includes information on hospital inpatients, as well as (hospital-based) ambulatory surgery departments and emergency departments.  Clinical information include diagnoses (collected from hospital discharge or emergency discharge), procedures, DRG (for some Medicare pts), and disposition. (Patient information also includes demographic variables (race, ethnicity, gender and birth date), geographic identifiers street name, town, zip code, boroughs/villages), financial and provider information.  CHIME databases focus on in-hospital mortality only. Policy on data sharing: governance and oversight structure under board establishes what can disclose, disclosure of doctor and hospital identifiers requires each hospital’s permission; patient identifiers (including birth date) not geographic identifiers (including zip code) may not be released.  Internet or written request for data submitted to CHIME available for sharing data.  Data sets/data reports not available for public access.