title: Global comparators project: international comparison of hospital outcomes using administrative data.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To produce comparable risk-adjusted outcome rates for an international sample of hospitals in a collaborative project to share outcomes and learning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Administrative data varying in scope, format, and coding systems were pooled from each participating hospital for the years 2005-2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following reconciliation of the different coding systems in the various countries, in-hospital mortality, unplanned readmission within 30 days, and "prolonged" hospital stay (>75th percentile) were risk-adjusted via logistic regression. A web-based interface was created to facilitate outcomes analysis for individual medical centers and enable peer comparisons. Small groups of clinicians are now exploring the potential reasons for variations in outcomes in their specialty.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 6,737,211 inpatient records, including 214,622 in-hospital deaths. Although diagnostic coding depth varied appreciably by country, comorbidity weights were broadly comparable. U.S. hospitals generally had the lowest mortality rates, shortest stays, and highest readmission rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intercountry differences in outcomes may result from differences in the quality of care or in practice patterns driven by socio-economic factors. Carefully managed administrative data can be an effective resource for initiating dialog between hospitals within and across countries. Inclusion of important outcomes beyond hospital discharge would increase the value of these analyses.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Foster Unit at Imperial College London, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, London, UK.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bottle
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.forename: Cor J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kalkman
authors.forename: Edward H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Livingston
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aylin
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D005060:Europe; D014943:Global Health; D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010359:Patient Readmission; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020379:Risk Adjustment; D012723:Sex; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States
keywords: Administrative data; hospitals; quality of care