[Minimum basic set of data of hospital discharges as a source of information for a study of congenital abnormalities].
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study is that of assessing the validity of the computerized diagnoses of hospital discharges of congenital defects by comparing them with the information included in the medical history.


METHODS
Based on the discharge records generated over a one-year period at 7 hospitals in the Autonomous Region of Valencia, 100 children were selected at random from each hospital. As a standard, the diagnoses stated in the medical histories were indexed and coded. Solely those discharges having taken place during the first year of life were considered. A study was also made of the type, seriousness and individual or combinations of congenital defects. A calculation was made of the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and the 95% confidence intervals thereof by the exact binomial method for the case studies (children) and the positive predictive value and sensitivity for the study of diagnoses.


RESULTS
126 children were detected as having congenital defects, and 201 diagnoses in medical records, and 83 children with congenital defects and 108 diagnoses on record. For the detection of cases, the records showed a 64% sensitivity, a 99.1% specificity and some positive and negative predictive values of over 90%. With regard to the detection of diagnoses, the sensitivity was 46% and the positive predictive value 83%. The sensitivity varied a great deal depending upon the diagnoses.


CONCLUSIONS
The hospital discharge records revealed a high degree of specificity and high predictive values, but a low degree of sensitivity. These facts must be considered when these records are used as a source of cases for the epidemiological studies of congenital defects.
Alba Moratilla
N
N
Unidad de Salud Laboral, Centro de Salud Pública de Valencia. pablo.rodriguez@sanidad.m400.gva.es
García García
A M
AM
Benavides
F G
FG
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011817:Rabbits; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology