Automated serial ECG comparison improves computerized interpretation of 12-lead ECG.

Background: Interpretation of a patient's 12-lead ECG frequently involves comparison to a previously recorded ECG. Automated serial ECG comparison can be helpful not only to note significant ECG changes but also to improve the single-ECG interpretation. Corrections from the previous ECG are carried forward by the serial comparison algorithm when measurements do not change significantly.

Development of a serial comparison program for conduction defects, acute myocardial infarction, and the use of additional leads.

Serial comparison of electrocardiograms (ECGs) is a useful tool in clinical diagnostic ECG and an enhancement to computer ECG analysis. When an analysis algorithm is modified, the corresponding serial comparison program needs to be updated accordingly. The new Philips diagnostic algorithm increased the number of leads in the ECG from the traditional 12 leads to 16, making it possible to diagnose right ventricular infarct/injury based on right-sided lead V4R.

Computerized serial comparison of electrocardiograms: program performance in myocardial infarction.

Serial comparison of electrocardiograms (ECGs) can provide a useful clinical function by reporting to the editing cardiologist the diagnostic changes that have occurred since the previous ECG. This program detects "significant measurement differences" in each of the diagnostic categories to detect these changes. We evaluated the accuracy and use of this serial comparison program by comparing the diagnostic results of the program with those of an expert cardiologist using a database of ECGs obtained from patients with symptoms admitted to the hospital and other laboratory results consistent with acute myocardial infarction.

Standardized risk and description of results from multivariable modeling of a binary response.

Descriptions of significant associations found from a logistic regression analysis typically are based on adjusted odds ratios. Unfortunately, odds ratios provide no information about the prevalence of response. In this paper, we justify and recommend using standardized risks, i.

Racial and gender differences in the viability of extremely low birth weight infants: a population-based study.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to provide a race- and gender-specific model for predicting 1-year survival rates for extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants by using population-based data.

Methods: Birth and death certificates were analyzed for all children (N = 5076) with birth weights between 300 g and 1000 g who were born in Florida between 1996 and 2000. Semiparametric, multivariate, logistic regression analysis was used to model 1-year survival probabilities as a function of birth weight, gestational age, mother's race, and infant's gender.

Sex differences in birth defects: a study of opposite-sex twins.

Background: Sex differences in structural birth defects are often confounded by environmental risk factors. Opposite-sex twins provide a unique model for detecting sex differences in birth defects while maximally controlling environmental risk factors in a natural setting.

Methods: Population data from the Florida Birth Defects Registry were analyzed.

The risk of birth defects in multiple births: a population-based study.

Objectives: To determine if multiple births have higher risks of birth defects compared to singletons and to identify types of birth defects that occur more frequently in multiple births, controlling for seven sociodemographic and health-related variables.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of all resident live births in Florida during 1996-2000 using data from a population-based surveillance system. Birth defects were defined as in the 9th edition of the International Classification of Diseases-Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) code for the 42 reportable categories in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Birth Defects Registry list and eight major birth defects classifications.

Risk factors for infant maltreatment: a population-based study.

Context: Of the approximately 900,000 children who were determined to be victims of abuse or neglect by US child protective services in 2002, the birth-to-3 age group had the highest rate of victimization (1.6%) and children younger than 1 accounted for the largest percentage of victims (9.6%).

Maternal and infant factors associated with excess kindergarten costs.

Objective: To estimate the excess educational costs at kindergarten from infant and maternal factors that are reported routinely at birth.

Methods: Birth and school records were analyzed for all children who were born in Florida between September 1, 1990, and August 31, 1991, and entered kindergarten from 1996 through 1999 (N = 120,554). Outcome measure was cost to state, derived from base allocation for students in regular classrooms plus multiplier weights for those who were assigned to 8 mutually exclusive special education categories or who repeated kindergarten.

A population-based study of the effects of birth weight on early developmental delay or disability in children.

Improving medical treatment of extremely low-birth-weight infants over the last 20 to 30 years resulted in increased survival rates. The developmental sequela of salvaged infants is of great interest to perinatologists. The primary purposes of the current study were to assess the effect of birth weight (BW) on developmental delay or disability (DDD) in the first three years of life and determine whether there is a BW threshold below which all infants should be evaluated to determine if intervention services for children with DDD should be received.

A risk assessment screening test for very low birth weight.

Objectives: To develop a risk-assessment screening tool for very low birth weight (VLBW) and to compare our empirically derived tool to the nonempirically derived screening tool used by the State of Florida.

Methods: Birth records from the State of Florida Vital Statistics between 04/01/92 and 12/07/94 were matched with State Healthy Start prenatal records, reported from 04/01/92 through 03/31/94. Known and additional potentially important risk factors were identified from both sources.

An empirical comparison of record linkage procedures.

We consider the problem of record linkage in the situation where we have only non-unique identifiers, like names, sex, race etc., as common identifiers in databases to be linked. For such situations much work on probabilistic methods of record linkage can be found in the statistical literature.