The impact of paradoxical comorbidities on risk-adjusted mortality of Medicare beneficiaries with cardiovascular disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Persistent uncertainty remains regarding assessments of patient comorbidity based on administrative data for mortality risk adjustment. Some models include comorbid conditions that are associated with improved mortality while other models exclude these so-called paradoxical conditions. The impact of these conditions on patient risk assessments is unknown.

Objective

To examine trends in the prevalence of conditions with a paradoxical (protective) relationship with mortality, and the impact of including these conditions on assessments of risk adjusted mortality.

Methods

Patients age 65 and older admitted for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery during 1994 through 2005 were identified in Medicare Part A files.

SUBMITTER: Vaughan-Sarrazin MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4010616 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature