Evaluation of the predictive value of ICD-9-CM coded administrative data for venous thromboembolism in the United States

Objective: To determine the positive predictive value of International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) discharge codes for acute deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Materials and Methods: Retrospective review of 3456 cases hospitalized between 2005 and 2007 that had a discharge code for venous thromboembolism, using 3 sample populations: a single academic hospital, 33 University HealthSystem Consortium hospitals, and 35 community hospitals in a national Joint Commission study. Analysis was stratified by position of the code in the principal versus a secondary position. Results: Among 1096 cases that had a thromboembolism code in the principal position the positive predictive value for any acute venous thrombosis was 95% (95% CI: 93-97), whereas among 2360 cases that had a thromboembolism code in a secondary position the predictive value was lower, 75% (95% CI: 71-80). The corresponding positive predictive values for lower extremity deep-vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism were 91% (95% CI: 86-95) and 50% (95% CI: 41-58), respectively. More highly defined codes had higher predictive value. Among codes in a secondary position that were false positive, 22% (95% CI: 16-27) had chronic/prior venous thrombosis, 15% (95% CI: 10-19) had an upper extremity thrombosis, 6% (95% CI: 4-8) had a superficial vein thrombosis, and 7% (95% CI: 4-13) had no mention of any thrombosis. Conclusions: ICD-9-CM codes for venous thromboembolism had high predictive value when present in the principal position, and lower predictive value when in a secondary position. New thromboembolism codes that were added in 2009 that specify chronic thrombosis, upper extremity thrombosis and superficial venous thrombosis should reduce the frequency of false-positive thromboembolism codes. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.