title: Validity of hospital discharge data for identifying infants with cardiac defects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine validity of the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes in discharge data for identifying infants with cardiac defects according to surveillance guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective medical record review of infants born in 2001 at one hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Infants were identified using ICD-9-CM codes from hospital discharge data, and keywords in medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 2,697 children, ICD-9-CM codes identified 66 infants coded with cardiac defects; physician review confirmed 24 had cardiac defects. Only 35 of 85 (41.2%) ICD-9-CM codes accurately reflected the cardiac defect diagnoses. Additional case finding located four infants with five cardiac defects. Sensitivity of ICD-9-CM codes for identifying these infants was 0.857, predictive value positive was 0.364.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ICD-9-CM codes from hospital discharge data identified most infants with cardiac defects, but many were false positives. ICD-9-CM codes were inaccurate for specific cardiac defects.
authors.affiliation: CDC/CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellow, Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN 55164-0975, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara Kathleen
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Frohnert
authors.forename: Richard Charles
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Lussky
authors.forename: Maureen Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Alms
authors.forename: Nancy J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Mendelsohn
authors.forename: Daniel Michael
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Symonik
authors.forename: Myron Clifford
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Falken
mesh_terms: D001719:Birth Certificates; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008499:Medical Records / Q000145:classification* / Q000592:standards; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods