Regional variation in varicose vein operations in England 1989-1996.
OBJECTIVE
To determine accuracy of Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) codes for varicose vein (VV) operations and differences in regional activity over 7 years.


METHODS
OPCS codes were obtained for VV operations (L85, L87) for the 8 English regions 1989/90-1995/96. Data were also obtained for the 4 districts of the old Oxford Region. Centrally collected codes for one hospital were compared with audit data from the same hospital.


RESULTS
There was a marked inter-regional variation in VV activity, e.g. in 1995/96 the range of operations/100,000 population was 102 (Anglia & Oxford) to 138 (West Midlands). There was a gradual increase in the number of operations carried out nationally from 98/100,000 in 1989/90 to 121/100,000 in 1995/96. The numbers peaked in 1991/92, coinciding with a 'waiting list initiative'. When compared with audit data, accuracy of coding improved throughout the study period. There was a 55% inaccuracy in 1989/90 compared with 2% in 1995/96. In each year, codes overestimated the volume of work actually carried out.


CONCLUSIONS
OPCS codes broadly reflect VV activity. Difference in VV activity in different parts of the country are apparent.
Department of Surgery, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, UK.
R B
RB
Galland
P J
PJ
Whatling
T J
TJ
Crook
T R
TR
Magee
D004282:Documentation / Q000592:standards; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends