Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/4849
Title
Use of explicit ICD9-CM codes to identify adult severe sepsis: impacts on epidemiological estimates
Author(s)
Date issued
2016-12
Citation
Critical Care. 2016; 20:313
Language
Inglés
Abstract
Background: Severe sepsis is a challenge for healthcare systems, and epidemiological studies are essential to assess
its burden and trends. However, there is no consensus on which coding strategy should be used to reliably identify
severe sepsis. This study assesses the use of explicit codes to define severe sepsis and the impacts of this on the
incidence and in-hospital mortality rates.
Methods: We examined episodes of severe sepsis in adults aged ≥18 years registered in the 2006–2011 national
hospital discharge database, identified in an exclusive manner by two ICD-9-CM coding strategies: (1) those
assigned explicit ICD-9-CM codes (995.92, 785.52); and (2) those assigned combined ICD-9-CM infection and organ
dysfunction codes according to modified Martin criteria. The coding strategies were compared in terms of the
populations they defined and their relative implementation. Trends were assessed using Joinpoint regression
models and expressed as annual percentage change (APC).
Results: Of 222 846 episodes of severe sepsis identified, 138 517 (62.2 %) were assigned explicit codes and 84 329
(37.8 %) combination codes; incidence rates were 60.6 and 36.9 cases per 100 000 inhabitants, respectively. Despite
similar demographic characteristics, cases identified by explicit codes involved fewer comorbidities, fewer registered
pathogens, greater extent of organ dysfunction (two or more organs affected in 60 % versus 26 % of cases) and
higher in-hospital mortality (54.5 % versus 29 %; risk ratio 1.86, 95 % CI 1.83, 1.88). Between 2006 and 2011, explicit
codes were increasingly implemented. Standardised incidence rates in this cohort increased over time with an
APC of 12.3 % (95 % CI 4.4, 20.8); in the combination code cohort, rates increased by 3.8 % (95 % CI 1.3, 6.3). A
decreasing trend in mortality was observed in both cohorts though the APC was −8.1 % (95 % CI −10.4, −5.7) in
the combination code cohort and −3.5 % (95 % CI −3.9, −3.2) in the explicit code cohort.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest greater and increasing use of explicit codes for adult severe sepsis in Spain.
This trend will have substantial impacts on epidemiological estimates, because these codes capture cases featuring
greater organ dysfunction and in-hospital mortality.
Subject
Online version
DOI
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