Diagnosis Codes Research Articles

The impact of imprecise case definitions in electronic health record research: a melanoma case-study from the Million Veteran Program.

Cases for a disease can be defined broadly using diagnostic codes, or narrowly using gold-standard confirmation that often is not available in large administrative datasets. These different definitions can have significant impacts on the results and conclusions of studies. We conducted this study to assess how using melanoma phecodes versus histologic confirmation for invasive or in situ melanoma impacts the results of a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using the Million Veteran Program. Melanoma status was determined three ways: (1) by the presence of two or more phecodes, (2) histologically-confirmed invasive melanoma, and (3) histologically-confirmed melanoma in situ. We conducted a GWAS for variants with minor allele frequencies of 1% or greater. There were 45,665 cases in the phecode cohort, 5364 cases in the confirmed invasive melanoma cohort, and 4792 cases in the confirmed melanoma in situ cohort. There were 20,457 variants significant at the genome-wide level in the phecode cohort, 2582 in the invasive melanoma cohort, and 1989 in the melanoma in situ cohort. Most of the variants identified in the phecode cohort did not replicate in the histologically-confirmed cohorts. The different case definitions led to large differences in sample size and variants associated at the genome-wide level. Unvalidated and imprecise case definitions can lead to less accurate results. Investigators should use validated phenotypes when gold-standard definitions are not available.

Greater distance traveled for renal trauma care is not associated with higher rates of intervention.

Trauma patients frequently may be transported significant distance to receive care at a level one trauma center. Increasing distance may cause delays in care. We sought to investigate whether distance traveled for level 1 trauma care affected rates of intervention for renal trauma. We queried our institutions reportable trauma database from the years 2015 to 2022. This data was filtered for all patients that had ICD codes pertaining to renal trauma. All renal trauma patients with zip codes where they sustained their injury were included. We then calculated the distance traveled to our hospital via Google Maps for each patient. We aggregated diagnosis codes for percutaneous angioembolism and nephrectomy. Injury severity scores (ISS) were collected. We divided patients into two groups based on distance traveled (0-30 miles and 31 + miles). We also analyzed the number of angioembolizations and open renal surgery completed for each mile distance category and analyzed for a difference between the groups. Our database yielded 307 cases of renal trauma that met inclusion criteria. We found no difference in rates of percutaneous angioembolism and open renal surgery between patients that traveled different distances for renal trauma care. Few studies have assessed distance traveled for trauma care and need for intervention. Our findings that an increased travel distance did not lead to a significantly increased risk for intervention are reassuring. Based on these findings, distance traveled for appropriate trauma care may not be a factor when deciding on transfers for renal trauma.

Job loss and reemployment of newly diagnosed people with epilepsy: A nationwide cohort study.

Epilepsy has negative socioeconomic impacts on those affected, resulting not only from actual disability but also from social stigma. However, longitudinal studies examining occupational consequences following an epilepsy diagnosis are limited. We aimed to investigate the occupational outcomes of newly diagnosed epilepsy among Korean employees. We conducted a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. We included newly diagnosed people with epilepsy (PWE) aged 25 to 54 years, identified by diagnostic codes and antiseizure medication (ASM) prescriptions, who were employed at diagnosis between 2004 and 2018. The employment status of PWE was determined based on their enrollment in the employer-provided health insurance scheme. We analyzed the rates of job loss and reemployment, associated factors, and income changes following diagnosis. Among the 13 122 newly diagnosed PWE, the overall first-year job loss rate across the study period was 21.7%, which was 1.62-2.54 times higher than that of the general population for each year. The excesses of job loss among PWE in safe occupations were comparable to those in safety-sensitive occupations. Central nervous system illness (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.12), psychiatric disease (aHR = 1.19), ≥2 emergency room visits or hospitalizations (aHR = 3.00), and ≥4 ASM attempts (aHR = 1.26) increased the risk of job loss. Among individuals who lost their job during the first year, 22.4% were reemployed within 1 year, with similar risk factors hindering reemployment. The income distribution of regained jobs showed a downward shift compared to previous jobs. Newly diagnosed PWE were at risk of job loss, irrespective of the occupational hazards related to seizures. Poor disease control and comorbidities partially contributed to unemployment. Alongside active seizure management, guidance for suitable occupations and the implementation of tailored restrictions based on occupational risk stratification are imperative to improve the job security of PWE.

Burden of Vitiligo in Canada: Retrospective Analysis of a Canadian Public Claims Database.

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease resulting in skin depigmentation. Treatment options are limited. To examine disease burden and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) among patients with vitiligo in Québec, Canada. In this retrospective study, data were obtained from the Régie de l'Assurance Maladie du Québec (RAMQ) databases for 125,000 random individuals from January 2010 to December 2019. The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) diagnostic code [709.x (other skin disorders)] with vitiligo-related treatment was used to identify patients with vitiligo. Patient characteristics and treatments, including treatment type, episodes (treatments used without discontinuation), and sequences (treatment episodes ≥30 days), were assessed. Annualized HCRU and costs (2021 adjusted) included all-cause hospitalization, emergency department visits, outpatient visits, and medications among patients with vitiligo (n = 113) and age- and sex-matched non-vitiligo controls (n = 339). Of patients with vitiligo (mean age, 50.0 years; 68.1% female) identified using ICD-9 code 709.x with vitiligo-related treatment, 36.3% received ≥4 treatment episodes. Treatment patterns were heterogeneous, with 43 different sequences reported. Annualized mean outpatient visits (16.1 vs 5.5) and all-cause outpatient service costs per patient were significantly higher in the vitiligo versus the control group (CAN$1037 vs CAN$523; P < .01). Total all-cause services costs were higher for patients with vitiligo in the year after versus before diagnosis (CAN$3679 vs CAN$2085; P = .04). Vitiligo is associated with significant burden and HCRU among patients in Québec, Canada, who were identified by ICD-9 code 709.x plus vitiligo-related treatment. Measurement of true vitiligo burden remains challenging.

Prevalence of complications and comorbidities associated with obesity: a health insurance claims analysis

BackgroundDespite the substantial burden of obesity in the United States (US), data on the comprehensive range of comorbidities in different age groups is limited. This study assessed the prevalence of various comorbidities among people diagnosed with obesity (as per ICD-10 diagnosis code) across age cohorts and compared how they differ from people without obesity.MethodsThis cross-sectional study analyzed individuals from all four regions (Midwest, Northeast, South, and West) of the US who had continuous insurance coverage from 2018 to 2020, using a large health insurance claims database (Merative™ MarketScan®). Identification of disorders relied on ICD-10 diagnosis code in patient claims and their prevalence was calculated.ResultsOf 6,935,911 individuals, people with a diagnosis of obesity accounted for 22.0%, 33.6%, and 34.4% in the 18–39 years, 40–64 years, and ≥ 65 years age groups, respectively. Within age strata, the mean age of people with obesity was comparable with those without obesity. Comorbidity burden was significantly higher among people with obesity, but increased with age in both obesity and non-obesity groups. Comorbidities with highest prevalence in people with obesity included: (i) hypertension (18–39 years: 29.0%, 40–64 years: 66.2%, ≥ 65 years: 89.4%), (ii) dyslipidemia (18–39 years: 28.1%, 40–64 years: 65.4%, ≥ 65 years: 88.0%), (iii) depression or anxiety (18–39 years: 44.1%, 40–64 years: 39.0%, ≥ 65 years: 38.9%), and (iv) prediabetes (18–39 years: 17.1%, 40–64 years: 32.2%, ≥ 65 years: 35.3%). Notably, increased prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors such as hypertension and dyslipidemia began at an earlier age in people with obesity as compared with those without obesity. Ratio of prevalence between obesity and non-obesity groups was highest for the 18–39 years age group, as compared to older groups. Disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, coronary heart diseases (CHD), and chronic kidney diseases also exhibited substantial burden among those with obesity.ConclusionsIn this claims study, hypertension and dyslipidemia were the leading comorbidities in people with obesity, with an increasing prevalence with age. The burden of cardiometabolic comorbidities among the younger age group suggested potential risk for early onset of CHD in later life. Understanding the range of obesity-related comorbidities seen in this claims data may encourage healthcare professionals and healthcare systems to systematically diagnose and better manage these disorders. Further research using additional data sources can offer a more accurate view of the prevalence of obesity and its impact.

The impact of recreational cannabis retailer allocation on emergency department visits: A natural experiment utilizing lottery design.

In October 2018, Canada legalized recreational cannabis, with Ontario distributing retailer licenses through a lottery system in 2019. This study investigates the impact of recreational cannabis retailer allocation on emergency department (ED) visits related to cannabis, alcohol, and opioids. A longitudinal study of 278 communities in Ontario (proxied by Forward Sortation Areas, FSAs) was conducted using health administrative data from ICES for all Ontario residents covered by public health insurance. The cohort included 11,156,100 adults aged 18 and above, monitored quarterly from January 2016 to March 2023. The allocation of cannabis retailers through a randomized lottery system provided a natural experiment. Staggered difference-in-differences proposed by Callaway and Sant'Anna (CSDID) models, weighted by the inverse probability of retailer allocation, were used to estimate the impact of cannabis store openings on ED visits, comparing FSAs with and without retailers. No significant effects were found in cannabis-, alcohol-, or opioid-related ED visits following the allocation of cannabis retailers. Sensitivity analyses, including alternate diagnostic codes, co-use of cannabis and other substances, and cannabis use without other substances, corroborated our main findings. The null results may be due to online cannabis sales preceding retail store openings, geographic distribution minimizing access disparities, and potential spillover effects. The allocation of recreational cannabis retailer licenses did not significantly impact acute care use. Continuous monitoring, comprehensive sales tracking, and integrated substance use prevention strategies are recommended for future policy considerations.

Use of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and risk of multiple myeloma in US Veterans with rheumatoid arthritis

BackgroundBiologic (b) and targeted synthetic (ts) disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) used in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) target inflammatory pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM). It is unknown whether use of b/tsDMARDs affects the incidence of MM.MethodsIn this cohort study using Veterans Health Administration (VHA) data, we identified Veterans newly diagnosed with RA from 1/1/2002 to 12/31/2018 using diagnostic codes and medication fills. DMARD exposure was categorized as follows: conventional synthetic (cs)DMARDs; bDMARDs, which included tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), non-TNFi; and a tsDMARD, tofacitinib. A Cox proportional hazards model with time-varying exposure was used to estimate the hazard ratio for developing MM among those who received b/tsDMARD medications relative to b/tsDMARD-naïve persons.Results27,540 veterans with RA met eligibility criteria of whom 8322 (30%) took a b/tsDMARD during follow-up. There were 77 incident cases of MM over 192,000 person-years of follow-up. The age-adjusted incidence rate (IR) of MM among b/tsDMARD-naïve patients was 0.37 (95% CI 0.28–0.49) per 1000 person-years and 0.42 among current or former b/tsDMARD users (95% CI 0.25–0.65). Adjusting for age and other demographic characteristics, the hazard ratio for MM associated with use of b/tsDMARDs was 1.32 (95% CI 0.78, 2.26).ConclusionIn this study of Veterans with RA, the rate of MM did not differ between b/tsDMARD and csDMARD users. The relatively short duration of follow-up and few events limited our power to detect treatment-related differences in MM risk.

Antipsychotic Drug Prescribing in Children Previously Treated With Stimulants for ADHD: A Population-Based Longitudinal Study: La prescription d'antipsychotiques chez les enfants précédemment traités avec des stimulants pour le TDAH : une étude longitudinale basée sur la population.

Stimulant drug treatment in preschool-age children for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as the concomitant use of antipsychotic drugs is largely unstudied in terms of longitudinal outcomes. We characterized longitudinal patterns of stimulant drug use in children diagnosed for ADHD and analyzed the mental health disorders leading to add-on therapy with antipsychotics. The study population comprised of children and adolescents (age: 0-19 years) in the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada, with at least one dispensing for any psychotropic drug between 1997 and 2017 (N = 144,825). BC health administrative databases were used to identify children with diagnosis for ADHD and dispensings for stimulant and antipsychotic drugs. Longitudinal patterns of drug use and diagnostic codes proximal to the add-on of antipsychotics were assessed. We found that residence in rural regions and lack of child psychiatrists are significantly associated with higher rates of stimulant drug prescription in preschool and early school-age children. Residence in rural regions was also associated with a higher rate for the concomitant use of antipsychotics over the course of stimulant treatment. When comparing children starting stimulant therapy before the age of 6 with those starting therapy after 6 years, we found an 82% increase in the likelihood of antipsychotic add-on in those starting stimulants at younger ages (HR: 1.82, 95% CI [1.63-2.04]). Moreover, children starting stimulant therapy before the age of 6 years had 3.57-fold higher rates of diagnostic codes for specific delays in development (ICD-9 315) in close proximity to the antipsychotic add-on. The question remains whether the add-on of antipsychotics is a consequence of insufficient action of the stimulant in ADHD, or required to ameliorate the adverse effects of the stimulant drug. Our result suggests that care need to be taken in the diagnosis for ADHD in children at the age when entering elementary school.

Comparative cardiovascular safety of romosozumab versus bisphosphonates in Japanese patients with osteoporosis: a new-user, active comparator design with instrumental variable analyses.

This study analyzed the association of romosozumab, a human monoclonal antibody with bone-forming and bone resorption-inhibiting effects, and bisphosphonates with the development of cardiovascular disease among patients with osteoporosis. A new-user design was employed to address selection bias, and instrumental variable analysis was used to address confounding by indication. Japanese patients aged ≥40years, diagnosed with osteoporosis or experienced a fragility fracture, were admitted to medical facilities covered by a commercial administrative claims database, and newly prescribed romosozumab or bisphosphonates after the commercialization of romosozumab in Japan (March 4, 2019) were included based on verification of a 180-day washout period. Cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction or stroke) was identified based on information regarding diagnosis, medical procedures, and drug codes. Facility-level prescription preference for romosozumab was used as an instrumental variable, defined as the proportion of romosozumab prescribed at the patient's facility within 90days prior to the index date. Of the 59 694 included prescriptions, 8808 were for romosozumab and 50 886 were for bisphosphonates. The mean age in the romosozumab group was higher than that in the bisphosphonates group (80.5 vs. 78.2years, respectively), and most patients were females (85.3 vs. 80.2%, respectively). The incidence of cardiovascular disease within 1year of prescription was 12.3 per 100 person-years for romosozumab versus 11.4 for bisphosphonates (unadjusted incidence rate ratio: 1.08, 95% confidence interval: 1.00-1.18). An instrumental variable analysis using the two-stage residual inclusion method yielded a hazard ratio of 1.30 (95% confidence interval: 0.88-1.90) for romosozumab compared with bisphosphonates over 1year. Although possibly underpowered, this study showed that no definitive evidence of increased cardiovascular risk associated with romosozumab use compared with bisphosphonates was observed in patients with osteoporosis. These findings should be further validated by larger pharmacoepidemiological studies to alleviate clinicians' concerns about romosozumab's safety.

Severe sepsis-associated acute kidney injury and outcomes: a longitudinal cohort study.

Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) is common among patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with sepsis. This study aimed to demonstrate an association between an episode of SA-AKI and progression to dialysis dependence, with a view to identifying a cohort who may be suitable for intensive nephrology follow-up. Design: Retrospective data-linkage cohort study. Alice Springs Hospital ICU, 10-bed regional facility, housed in a 200-bed regional hospital, located in Central Australia. All patients admitted with a diagnosis code associated with sepsis between 2015 and 2017. Primary outcome was a composite measure comprising death or initiation of maintenance dialysis within 5 years of the index case of sepsis leading to ICU admission. The unadjusted risk of the composite outcome was significantly higher in the SA-AKI group (odds ratio (OR) 3.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.81-5.74, P < 0.01). This effect remains after adjustment for age, illness severity and co-morbidities (adjusted OR (aOR) 2.64, 95% CI 1.22-5.68, P = 0.01). Progression to maintenance dialysis was the primary driver of this effect (OR 7.56, 95% CI 2.23-25.65, P = 0.02), although it was modified by the effect of confounders (aOR 7.3, 95% CI 0.7-75.94, P = 0.10). These results demonstrate an association between an index episode involving SA-AKI and the composite outcome in a defined population. Identification of this group may allow intensive nephrology follow-up and secondary prevention with the goal of mitigating the risk of progression of disease with significant economic and personal benefits.

Impact of Gender Identity Field in the Veterans Health Administration Electronic Health Record, 2016‒2023.

Objectives. To distinguish differences in physical and mental health between transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) veterans identified via diagnostic codes, self-identification, and their combination. Methods. We used sociodemographic characteristics and physical and mental health diagnoses for TGD veterans receiving care in Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Results. Among the cohort of 12 745 TGD veterans, 69.3% were identified solely using self-reported gender identity data, 23.4% were identified using only TGD-related diagnostic codes, and 7.2% had both TGD-related diagnostic codes and gender identity data in their medical record. TGD veterans identified using self-reported gender identity data were younger and more racially and ethnically diverse compared with those identified with only diagnostic codes. Across nearly all independently examined health conditions, TGD veterans identified via self-reported gender identity were at lower risk compared with those identified via diagnostic codes. Conclusions. Inferences drawn from studies of TGD veteran health may be significantly impacted by choice of methodology for defining the TGD veteran cohort. New analyses using self-reported gender identity data, as opposed to diagnostic codes, are critical to understand the health of this population within VHA. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print January 16, 2025:e1-e11. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307920).

Preoperative Acute Depressive Episodes are Associated with Increased Medication Prescribing and Inpatient Services Following Primary Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair.

The purpose of this study is to compare postoperative healthcare utilization, prescriptions, and shoulder surgery between patients with an acute depressive episode (ADE) and those without an acute depressive episode (NADE) within 3 months before arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Diagnostic and procedural codes were used to identify patients in the TriNetX Research Network at least 18 years of age and underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair between January 2010 and November 2021. Patients with a previous rotator cuff repair or diagnosis of recurrent major depressive disorder were excluded. Patients were stratified into ADE and NADE cohorts and propensity matched. Outcomes were measured by healthcare utilization and medication prescribing up to 3 months and incidence of future shoulder surgery up to 2 years postoperatively. After propensity matching, the ADE cohort included 1,514 patients and were compared to 1,514 patients in the NADE cohort. Preoperative characteristics were similar including female sex (62.1 % and 63.0% respectively, P = 0.599). A greater percentage of the ADE cohort received inpatient services within 3 months (4.5% vs 3.0%, OR 1.54; CI 1.05-2.25, P = 0.027) following surgery. Patients with ADE were prescribed a greater percentage of antidepressants (32.8% vs 24.4%, OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.29-1.77, P < 0.0001), sedatives (25.2% vs 20.5%, OR 1.31, CI 1.11-1.55, P = 0.002), and opioid analgesics (63.4% vs 55.7%, OR 1.38 CI 1.19-1.59) P < 0.0001) within 3 months. Within 2 years, incidence of future surgery were similar for arthroscopy (7.9% vs 7.3%) and arthroplasty (2.2% vs 1.6%). Acute depressive episodes prior to primary arthroscopic rotator cuff repair are associated with increased utilization of inpatient services and postoperative analgesic prescriptions. Incidence of future shoulder surgery for arthroscopy and arthroplasty was similar between patients with or without ADEs.

Prevalence and features of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, United States, 2016-2022.

The epidemiology of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in the United States is not well-described. To estimate national ABPA prevalence among patients with asthma or cystic fibrosis, characterize ABPA testing practices, and describe ABPA clinical features, treatment, and 6-month outcomes. We used the 2016-2022 Merative™ MarketScan® Commercial/Medicare and Multi-State Medicaid Databases to identify cohorts of patients with 1) asthma, 2) cystic fibrosis (CF), and 3) ABPA. We calculated ABPA prevalence per 10,000 patients with asthma or CF, assessed diagnostic testing for ABPA among patients with severe asthma, and described features of patients with ABPA using diagnosis and procedure codes. The overall ABPA prevalence among patients with asthma was 2.8/10,000 (Commercial/Medicare) and 1.0/10,000 (Medicaid). ABPA prevalence increased with asthma severity (Commercial/Medicare: mild 1.3, moderate 9.3, severe 70.6, Medicaid: mild 0.3, moderate 2.4, severe 32.4). Among patients with CF, ABPA prevalence was 183.7/10,000 (Commercial/Medicare) and 134.6/10,000 (Medicaid). Among patients with severe asthma, 10.3% (Commercial/Medicare) and 7.4% (Medicaid) received total immunoglobulin E testing, which is recommended for ABPA diagnosis. Among all patients with ABPA (Commercial/Medicare: n = 1,564, Medicaid: n = 410), ABPA treatments included inhaled corticosteroids (>70%), systemic corticosteroids (>62%), and antifungals (>18%). Patients with ABPA and Medicaid were more likely to experience hospitalization (45.1% vs. 22.5% of patients with Commercial/Medicare insurance) and respiratory failure (18.5% vs. 10.9%). This analysis provides initial estimates of national ABPA prevalence. Further studies could identify potential barriers to ABPA testing and investigate potential factors affecting payer-related differences in ABPA burden.

Impact of Concomitant Injuries on Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Isolated versus Non-Isolated Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often occurs alongside injuries to other body regions, worsening patient outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of concomitant injuries on clinical outcomes in patients with isolated versus non-isolated TBI. A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the Emergency Department-based Injury In-depth Surveillance System (EDIIS), encompassing 180,058 TBI patients admitted to 23 tertiary hospitals from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022. Patients were categorized into isolated TBI (iTBI, n = 127,673) and non-isolated TBI (niTBI, n = 52,385) groups based on injury diagnostic codes. Clinical outcomes-including 24-hour and 30-day mortality, hospital admission, and interhospital transfer-were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analyses adjusted for potential confounders were performed. niTBI patients exhibited significantly higher 24-hour mortality (1.5% vs. 0.4%), 30-day mortality (2.6% vs. 1.0%), hospital admissions (24.5% vs. 8.4%), and interhospital transfers (3.6% vs. 1.1%) compared to iTBI patients (all p < 0.001). Concomitant injuries increased the adjusted odds of 24-hour mortality (aOR = 1.456; 95% CI: 1.286-1.648) and 30-day mortality (aOR = 1.111; 95% CI: 1.022-1.208). Thoracic injuries were the most significant predictor of adverse outcomes in niTBI patients, nearly sixfold increasing the odds of 24-hour mortality (aOR = 5.958; 95% CI: 5.057-7.019). Concomitant injuries significantly worsen clinical outcomes in TBI patients, with thoracic injuries being the most critical predictor of mortality. These findings highlight the importance of comprehensive trauma assessment and targeted prevention strategies to improve survival rates and optimize resource allocation for patients with multiple injuries.

Validation of Diagnosis Codes for Low Birth Weight and Small-for-Gestational Age in the Medicaid Analytic Extract Database.

The accuracy of low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA) in administrative healthcare records is crucial for perinatal studies but has few validity studies. Using 1999-2010 MAX linked to birth certificates (BC), we identified mother-infant dyads (≥30 days enrollment after delivery, with valid gestational age (GA) and birth weight (BW)). LBW and SGA were identified based on ICD-9-CM codes. Infants with BW <10% of the U.S. reference were flagged as SGA. For LBW group diagnoses, we imputed birthweight using median, mean BW from BCs, and ICD code boundaries of infants in the same LBW group. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, and positive/negative predictive values to assess performance. We identified 1,536,272 live births. All LBW groups had low SEs, high SPs, and NPVs, whereas PPVs varied. Among infants with SGA diagnoses based on GA/BW from the BC, SE of the SGA codes was 13.36%; SP 99.01%; PPV 67.37%. Combining imputation with LBW codes increased SE up to 22.09% (lower boundary) but decreased PPV to 41.53% (lower boundary). ICD-9-CM codes from administrative healthcare records had low SE but high SP. Imputation based on GA and BW did not add much value to SGA identification.

An algorithm for identifying causes of reoperations after orthopedic fracture surgery in health administrative data: a diagnostic accuracy study using the Danish National Patient Register.

Disease- or procedure-specific registers offer valuable information but are costly and often inaccurate regarding outcome measures. Alternatively, automatically collected data from administrative systems could be a solution, given their high completeness. Our primary aim was to validate a method for identifying secondary surgical procedures (reoperations) in the Danish National Patient Register (DNPR) within the first year following primary fracture surgery. The secondary aim was to evaluate the accuracy of the diagnosis and procedure codes used to determine the causes of these reoperations. Finally, we developed algorithms to enhance precision in identifying the reasons for reoperations. In a national cohort of 11,551 patients with primary fracture surgery, reoperations were identified through subsequent surgical procedure codes in the DNPR. Each patient record was reviewed to confirm the reoperations and causes. To improve accuracy, a stepwise algorithm was developed for each cause. We identified 2,347 possible reoperations; 2,212 were validated as true reoperations by review of patient record, i.e., a 94% positive predictive value (PPV). However, the coding for the causes of these reoperations was inaccurate. Our algorithm identified major reoperations with a sensitivity/PPV of 89/77%, minor reoperations 99%/89%, infections 77/85%, nonunion 82/56%, early re-osteosynthesis 90/75%, and secondary arthroplasties 95/87%. While the overall reported reoperations in the DNPR had a high PPV, the predefined diagnosis and procedure codes alone were not sufficient to accurately determine the causes of these reoperations. An algorithm was developed for this purpose, yielding acceptable results for all causes except nonunion.

Accuracy of pathogen diagnostic codes for acute hematogenous musculoskeletal infections in children.

Administrative databases are powerful tools for pediatric research but lack patient-level microbiology results. This study aimed to determine the accuracy of pathogen discharge diagnosis codes for children hospitalized with acute hematogenous musculoskeletal infections (MSKIs). Medical records for 244 children hospitalized with acute hematogenous MSKIs were manually reviewed to determine which bacterial pathogen, if any, was identified for each MSKI based on microbiology results obtained during the hospitalization. Microbiology results for each patient were then compared to their discharge diagnoses in the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database to determine the accuracy of pathogen discharge codes. Discharge diagnostic codes correctly matched the microbiology results in 89.3% of encounters. Sensitivity and specificity for Staphylococcus aureus discharge diagnostic codes were 88.6% and 96.4% respectively for methicillin-susceptible S. aureus and 92.9% and 99.5% for methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Pathogen discharge codes are reliable surrogates that accurately reflect the microbiology results for children with MSKIs.

Venous Thromboembolism Occurrence and Association with Gastrointestinal Disorders in Children with Cystic Fibrosis: An Analysis from the TriNetX Research Network Global Multicenter Real-World Dataset.

The purpose of this study is to (1) estimate and compare the prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in children (age 0 to ≤21) with versus without cystic fibrosis (CF); (2) investigate putative associations between specific gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations and the development of VTE among children with CF. This was a multicenter case-control analysis among patients aged 0 to ≤ 21 years between 2010 and 2020, using the TriNetX Research Network. Data queries included ICD-9/10 (International Classification of Diseases-9th/10th Revision) diagnosis codes. Bivariate associations with VTE among CF patients were compared using Chi-square testing for categorical variables and Student's t-test for continuous variables. We used multivariable logistic regression to test for independent associations of GI manifestations with VTE among children with CF, with adjustment for other salient covariates. There was a total of 7,689 children with and 22,327,660 without CF. The frequency of occurrence of VTE was increased nearly 20-fold among those with, as compared with without CF (130 vs. 7 per 10,000 patients). Acute pancreatitis (adjusted odd ratio [aOR] = 3.80, [95% confidence interval, CI: 2.00-7.22]), biliary disease (aOR = 2.17 [95% CI: 1.17-4.03]), gastrostomy status (aOR = 2.01 [95% CI: 1.27-3.18]), and malabsorption/malnutrition (aOR = 2.41 [95% CI: 1.52-3.82]) were each associated with a higher likelihood of VTE among children with CF. In conclusion, we found a significantly increased frequency of VTE occurrence and association of specific GI diseases as independent risk factors for VTE among children with CF compared with those without.

Investigating misclassification of type 1 diabetes in a population-based cohort of British Pakistanis and Bangladeshis using polygenic risk scores

Correct classification of type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is challenging due to overlapping clinical features and the increasingly early onset of T2D, particularly in South Asians. Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for T1D and T2D have been shown to work relatively well in South Asians, despite being derived from largely European-ancestry samples. Here we used PRSs to investigate the rate of potential misclassification of diabetes amongst British Bangladeshis and Pakistanis. Using linked health records from the Genes & Health cohort (n = 38,344) we defined two reference groups meeting stringent diagnostic criteria: 31 T1D cases, 1842 T2D cases, and after excluding these, two further groups: 839 insulin-treated diabetic individuals with ambiguous features and 5174 non-diabetic controls. Combining these with 307 confirmed T1D cases and 307 controls from India, we calculated ancestry-corrected PRSs for T1D and T2D, with which we estimated the proportion of T1D cases within the ambiguous group at ~ 6%, dropping to ~ 4.5% within the subset who had T2D codes in their health records (and are thus most likely to have been misclassified). We saw no significant association between the T1D or T2D PRS and BMI at diagnosis, time to insulin, or the presence of T1D or T2D diagnostic codes amongst the T2D or ambiguous cases, suggesting that these clinical features are not particularly helpful for aiding diagnosis in ambiguous cases. Our results emphasise that robust identification of T1D cases and appropriate clinical care may require routine measurement of diabetes autoantibodies and C-peptide.

Association Between Positive Airway Pressure Therapy and Healthcare Costs Among Older Adults with Comorbid Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Common Chronic Conditions: An Actuarial Analysis.

To determine the association between adherence to positive airway pressure and healthcare costs among a national sample of older adults with comorbid OSA and common chronic conditions. Our data source was a random sample of Medicare administrative claims for years 2016-2019. Inclusion criteria included age >65 years and new diagnosis of OSA. Exclusion criteria included evidence of prior OSA treatment during the 12 months prior to the index date, active cancer, or end-stage renal disease. OSA was defined using physician-assigned diagnostic codes. Common chronic conditions included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, depression, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and stroke. Based on Medicare policy, individuals were classified as adherers, non-adherers, or non-initiators. Risk adjustment was based on the CMS-HCC approach developed by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Service specifically to estimate anticipated costs. To examine the impact of PAP adherence on costs, we employed a weighted DID regression framework to account for baseline variations in health status and other confounding factors. Participants included 28,220 Medicare beneficiaries with comorbid OSA. Of these, 45% were adherent to PAP, 10% were non-adherent, and 44% did not initiate PAP. Relative to non-initiators, beneficiaries who initiated PAP displayed $195 reduced per-member per-month costs over 24 months. This finding remained consistent across all seven medical and psychiatric subgroups, as well as among individuals with multimorbidity. In this national analysis of Medicare beneficiaries with common chronic conditions, PAP adherence was associated with reduced costs over 24 months.