Assessing validity of ICD-9-CM and ICD-10 administrative data in recording clinical conditions in a unique dually coded database.

Objective: The goal of this study was to assess the validity of the International Classification of Disease, 10th Version (ICD-10) administrative hospital discharge data and to determine whether there were improvements in the validity of coding for clinical conditions compared with ICD-9 Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) data.

Methods: We reviewed 4,008 randomly selected charts for patients admitted from January 1 to June 30, 2003 at four teaching hospitals in Alberta, Canada to determine the presence or absence of 32 clinical conditions and to assess the agreement between ICD-10 data and chart data. We then re-coded the same charts using ICD-9-CM and determined the agreement between the ICD-9-CM data and chart data for recording those same conditions.

Urban and rural differences in the management of asthma amongst primary care physicians in Alberta.

Background: Inconsistencies in rural and urban health care exist; however, little has been done to evaluate the potential differences in asthma management.

Objective: To compare asthma management in rural versus urban primary care physician practices.

Methods: Forty-two of 136 consenting primary care physicians were randomly selected for chart review.

Economic implications of treatment guidelines for congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is the most common cause of cardiovascular hospital admission. A significant proportion of the costs of CHF is due to hospitalizations. The present study evaluated the economic impact of a modest increase in the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta-blockers, spironolactone and digoxin on CHF hospitalizations.

Management of asthma among community-based primary care physicians.

Background: Despite significant improvements in asthma treatment and the dissemination of national and international guidelines for asthma management, there are ongoing concerns that suboptimal care is being provided for patients with asthma.

Objective: To determine the current practice patterns of asthma care among primary care physicians.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Contemporary burden of illness of congestive heart failure in Canada.

Background: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is associated with high morbidity and mortality; however, there is little contemporary Canadian data to quantify the burden of this illness.

Objective: To report the impact of CHF in Canada, as measured by hospitalizations.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Canadian Institute for Health Information on patients hospitalized with CHF as a most responsible, primary or complication diagnosis during fiscal year 2000/01.