%0 Journal Article
%T Authentication of Algorithm to Detect Metastases in Men with Prostate Cancer Using ICD-9 Codes
%A Matthew T. Dolan
%A Sung Kim
%A Yu-Hsuan Shao
%A Grace L. Lu-Yao
%J Epidemiology Research International
%D 2012
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2012/970406
%X Background. Metastasis is a crucial endpoint for patients with prostate cancer (PCa), but currently lacks a validated claims-based algorithm for detection. Objective. To develop an algorithm using ICD-9 codes to facilitate accurate reporting of PCa metastases. Methods. Medical records from 300 men hospitalized at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital for PCa were reviewed. Using the presence of metastatic PCa on chart review as the gold standard, two algorithms to detect metastases were compared. Algorithm A used ICD-9 codes 198.5 (bone metastases), 197.0 (lung metastases), 197.7 (liver metastases), or 198.3 (brain and spinal cord metastases) to detect metastases, while algorithm B used only 198.5. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for the two algorithms were determined. Kappa statistics were used to measure agreement rates between claim data and chart review. Results. Algorithm A demonstrated a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 95%, 100%, 100%, and 98.7%, respectively. Corresponding numbers for algorithm B were 90%, 100%, 100%, and 97.5%, respectively. The agreement rate is 96.8% for algorithm A and 93.5% for algorithm B. Conclusions. Using ICD-9 codes 198.5, 197.0, 197.7, or 198.3 in detecting the presence of PCa metastases offers a high sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV value. 1. Introduction Prostate cancer is a particular diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma because while it is so prevalent among older men, it typically progresses slowly and thus patients often die of other unrelated causes. The five-year relative survival rate for localized and regional prostate cancer is 100%, regardless of race, and 99% for all stages of prostate cancer [1, 2]. Often patients with uncontrolled prostate cancer will have a rising PSA but no clinical symptoms until the development of metastases [3¨C6]. Prostate cancer metastases most commonly travel to bone, and less commonly to other sites such as brain, bladder, lung, and liver. Once metastases develop, significant morbidity arises and the five-year survival rate falls precipitously to 32% [2]. It is not an exaggeration to say that the development of metastases is a seminal event in the life of a prostate cancer patient and that it often heralds the true onset of morbidity from their disease. The morbidity ensuing from metastases can include severe pain, structural instability of affected bones, spinal cord compression, and neurological compromise [7, 8]. Quality of life is further diminished by the therapeutic measures taken at this point,
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/eri/2012/970406/