Which ICD-9-CM codes should be used for bronchiolitis research?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Bronchiolitis is a common respiratory disorder in children. Although there are specific ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes for bronchiolitis, the illness is often coded using broader diagnosis codes. This creates the potential for subject misclassification if researchers rely on specific diagnosis codes when assembling retrospective cohorts. Here we challenge the common research practice of relying on specific diagnosis codes for bronchiolitis.

Methods

We examined the use of diagnosis codes for the first episode of bronchiolitis, bronchitis, acute asthma, and bronchospasm and wheezing, in children younger than six and 24 months in the State of California Medic-Aid database. We categorized codes as narrow or broad diagnosis codes. We compared patient, geographic, and tempora

SUBMITTER: Walsh P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6249877 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature