Positive predictive value of the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction in an administrative database.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the positive predictive value of ICD-9-CM coding of acute myocardial infarction and cardiac procedures.


METHODS
Using chart-abstracted data as the standard, we examined administrative data from the Veterans Health Administration for a national random sample of 5,151 discharges.


RESULTS
The positive predictive value of acute myocardial infarction coding in the primary position was 96.9%. The sensitivity and specificity of coding were, respectively, 96% and 99% for catheterization, 95.7% and 100% for coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and 90.3% and 99. 7% for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.


CONCLUSIONS
The positive predictive value of acute myocardial infarction and related procedure coding is comparable to or better than previously reported observations of administrative databases.
Petersen
L A
LA
Center for the Study of Practice Patterns in Acute Myocardial Infarction, Health Services Research and Development, Roxbury VA Medical Center, Boston, Mass., USA.
Wright
S
S
Normand
S L
SL
Daley
J
J
D000368:Aged; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000145:classification*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs