International classification of diseases and current procedural terminology codes underestimated thrombolytic use for ischemic stroke.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the accuracy of recently introduced International Classification of Diseases Ninth Revision (ICD-9) procedure and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes designed for injection or infusion of thrombolytic agents.


METHODS
We determined the accuracy of ICD-9 procedure code 99.10 and CPT codes 37201, 37202 for use of thrombolysis in ischemic stroke by comparing procedure codes of University Hospital discharge data with a concurrent prospective registry.


RESULTS
Of the 369 ischemic stroke patients, 49 (13.3%) received either intravenous and/or intraarterial thrombolysis. The sensitivity and specificity for ICD-9 procedure code 99.10 was 55% and 98% and CPT procedure code 37201 and 37202 was 49% and 99%. Identification by either ICD-9 codes or CPT codes yielded a high sensitivity and specificity of 82% and 98%.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of ICD-9 and CPT codes alone may underestimate the use of thrombolytics using national and regional database. Best results are achieved when a combination of ICD-9 and CPT codes are used to identify the use of thrombolytics.
Qureshi
Adnan I
AI
Zeenat Qureshi Stroke Research Center, Department of Neurology and Neurosciences, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 90 Bergen Streeet, DOC-8100, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. aiqureshi@hotmail.com
Harris-Lane
Pansy
P
Siddiqi
Faisal
F
Kirmani
Jawad F
JF
D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D039702:Current Procedural Terminology; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006753:Hospital Records; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D038801:International Classification of Diseases / Q000592:standards*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents