Audits

NICCS undertakes two national annual audits each year. More information on each audit is available on request by emailing nss.niccs@nhs.scot

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) Audit

The aim of this audit is to understand more about everyone in Scotland who has a diagnosis of Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

In May each year, a data collection spreadsheet is sent to each ICC centre requesting information on patients with HCM who have been referred to their service in the previous year. The information collected is:

  • CHI
  • Health Board of Residence
  • ICC Centre where patient is being treated
  • Genotype
  • Phenotype
  • Proband
  • Clinical Diagnosis Date
  • Genetic Test Date

The data should be returned by the end of September.

Sudden Cardiac Death Audit

The aim of this audit is to find out more about the post mortem and genetic testing processes that take place following sudden cardiac deaths.

In May each year, a data collection spreadsheet is sent to colleagues in pathology and genetics seeking information on what took place following all sudden cardiac death in the previous year. The information collected is:

Pathology

  • Total number of forensic autopsies
  • Number of autopsy cases with Sudden Arrhythmic Death
  • Number of autopsy cases with Sudden Cardiac Death
  • Number of autopsy cases where a sample was taken for genetics
  • Number of cases where pathologists recommended genetics referral

Genetics

  • Number of samples received by local genetics laboratory for Sudden Arrhythmic Death
  • Number of samples received by the local genetics laboratory for Sudden Cardiac Death
  • Number of sudden unexpected death cases where genetic testing was undertaken for:
    • Genetic arrhythmia (SADS cases)
    • Cardiomyopathy (sudden cardiac death where cardiomyopathy is suspected)
    • Aortopathy
    • Hypercholesterolaemia
    • Thrombophilia
    • Other
  • For each category, the number of cases where an actionable variant was detected
  • For each category, the number of cases where a family member attended a genetic clinic or where cardiology investigations (e.g. ECG, echocardiogram) were undertaken.

The data should be returned by the end of September.