The validity of hospital diagnostic and procedure codes reflecting morbidity in preterm neonates born <32 weeks gestation.

Objective: To determine the validity of diagnostic hospital billing codes for complications of prematurity in neonates <32 weeks gestation.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort data from discharge summaries and clinical notes (n = 160) were reviewed by trained, blinded abstractors for the presence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) grades 3 or 4, periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), stage 3 or higher, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and surgery for NEC or ROP. Data were compared to diagnostic billing codes from the neonatal electronic health record.