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To utilise electronic patient records (EPRs) to evaluate the secondary prevention of stroke; to evaluate data recorded in EPRs as potential outcome measures for pragmatic trials in primary care.

Data were analysed for 414 family practices comprising 22 730 patients with an index first stroke between 2003 and 2006. For each subject, the EPR was evaluated for the 12 months before and 12 months after stroke. Data were analysed for stroke secondary prevention measures.

Blood pressure (BP) readings were available for 77% before stroke, and 90% after stroke. Mean (SD) values for BP after stroke were systolic 139.1 (17.1) and diastolic BP 78.0 (9.2) mm Hg. Intraclass correlation coefficients by family practice were 0.03 for both systolic and diastolic BP. For 14 006 subjects (62%) with records available both before and after stroke, the mean systolic BP was 6.02 mm Hg (95% CI …