Brian W Patterson1,2, Maureen A Smith2,3,4, Michael D Repplinger1,5, Michael S Pulia1, James E Svenson1, Michael K Kim1, Manish N Shah1,6. 1. BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin. 2. Health Innovation Program, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin. 3. Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin. 4. Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin. 5. Department of Radiology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin. 6. Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To compare incidence of falls in an emergency department (ED) cohort using a traditional International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code-based scheme and an expanded definition that included chief complaint information and to examine the clinical characteristics of visits "missed" in the ICD-9-based scheme. DESIGN: Retrospective electronic record review. SETTING: Academic medical center ED. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 65 and older seen in the ED between January 1, 2013, and September 30, 2015. MEASUREMENTS: Two fall definitions were applied (individually and together) to the cohort: an ICD-9-based definition and a chief complaint definition. Admission rates and 30-day mortality (per encounter) were measured for each definition. RESULTS: Twenty-three thousand eight hundred eighty older adult visits occurred during the study period. Using the most-inclusive definition (ICD-9 code or chief complaint indicating a fall), 4,363 visits (18%) were fall related. Of these visits, 3,506 (80%) met the ICD-9 definition for a fall-related visit, and 2,664 (61%) met the chief complaint definition. Of visits meeting the chief complaint definition, 857 (19.6%) were missed when applying the ICD-9 definition alone. Encounters missed using the ICD-9 definition were less likely to lead to an admission (42.9%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 39.7-46.3%) than those identified (54.4%, 95% CI = 52.7-56.0%). CONCLUSION: Identifying individuals in the ED who have fallen based on diagnosis codes underestimates the true burden of falls. Individuals missed according to the code-based definition were less likely to have been admitted than those who were captured. These findings call attention to the value of using chief complaint information to identify individuals who have fallen in the ED-for research, clinical care, or policy reasons.
OBJECTIVES: To compare incidence of falls in an emergency department (ED) cohort using a traditional International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code-based scheme and an expanded definition that included chief complaint information and to examine the clinical characteristics of visits "missed" in the ICD-9-based scheme. DESIGN: Retrospective electronic record review. SETTING: Academic medical center ED. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 65 and older seen in the ED between January 1, 2013, and September 30, 2015. MEASUREMENTS: Two fall definitions were applied (individually and together) to the cohort: an ICD-9-based definition and a chief complaint definition. Admission rates and 30-day mortality (per encounter) were measured for each definition. RESULTS: Twenty-three thousand eight hundred eighty older adult visits occurred during the study period. Using the most-inclusive definition (ICD-9 code or chief complaint indicating a fall), 4,363 visits (18%) were fall related. Of these visits, 3,506 (80%) met the ICD-9 definition for a fall-related visit, and 2,664 (61%) met the chief complaint definition. Of visits meeting the chief complaint definition, 857 (19.6%) were missed when applying the ICD-9 definition alone. Encounters missed using the ICD-9 definition were less likely to lead to an admission (42.9%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 39.7-46.3%) than those identified (54.4%, 95% CI = 52.7-56.0%). CONCLUSION: Identifying individuals in the ED who have fallen based on diagnosis codes underestimates the true burden of falls. Individuals missed according to the code-based definition were less likely to have been admitted than those who were captured. These findings call attention to the value of using chief complaint information to identify individuals who have fallen in the ED-for research, clinical care, or policy reasons.
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