title: Capturing cases of distal symmetric polyneuropathy in a community.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about what constitutes appropriate diagnostic testing in patients with distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Utilizing an ICD-9 screening method and medical record abstraction, we determined the number of new cases of DSP within community neurology practices in Nueces County, Texas. We then compared 2 case capture methods (ICD-9 vs. all-case review screening).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ICD-9 case capture method identified 52 cases over a 3-month period. Comparing case capture methods, the ICD-9 method identified 16 of 17 cases identified by the all-case review method (94%). The ICD-9 method required screening of 84% fewer charts compared with the all-case review.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many new cases of DSP occur each month within Nueces County. The ICD-9 screening technique combined with medical abstraction is an efficient method to identify new DSP cases in this community. These findings are critical for future epidemiological investigations into patients with DSP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, 4021 BSRB, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104, USA. bcallagh@med.umich.edu
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Callaghan
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kerber
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Longoria
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: Lynda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lisabeth
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012111:Residence Characteristics