This is a secondary analysis of data from the first two years of the BEACH (Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health) program, April 1998-March 2002. Based on 203,100 encounters, it reports the characteristics of patients who attended encounters where cardiovascular problems were managed, and those of the GPs with whom these encounters occurred. Comparisons were made between the characteristics of these patients (cardiovascular patients) and their GPs and the characteristics of those at encounters where cardiovascular problems were not managed.