Table 1.

Strategies for identifying admissions to hospital for AECOPD in HES

HES definition of AECOPD hospitalization
1. Specific AECOPD code or COPD code in any position in any FCE during spell
2. Specific AECOPD code in any position or COPD code in first position in any FCE during spell
3. Specific AECOPD code in any position in any FCE during spell
4. Specific AECOPD code in any position in or LRTI code or COPD code in first position in any FCE during spell
5. Specific AECOPD code or LRTI code in any position or COPD code in first position in any FCE during spell
6. Specific AECOPD code in first position in first FCE during spell

Abbreviations: COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; AECOPD, acute exacerbations of COPD; LRTI, lower respiratory tract infection; HES, Hospital Episodes Statistics; FCE, finished consultant episodes.