Table 4.
Validity of HES definitions of AECOPD hospitalization
| Discharge summary analysis | Full HES sample analysis | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||
| HES definition of AECOPD hospitalization | Number of discharge summary-confirmed AECOPD hospitalizations identified using strategy (N=40 events in 40 patients from discharge letters) | Sensitivity (95% CI) (% of discharge summary-confirmed AECOPD hospitalizations picked up) (N=40 events in 40 patients from discharge letters) | Number of potential AECOPD hospitalization events in total sample identified using strategy (full HES sample for all 27,182 COPD patients included in the study)a |
| Specific AECOPD code or LRTI code in any position or COPD code in the first position in any FCE during spell | 35/40 | 87.5% (72.4%–94.9%) | 40,174 |
| Specific AECOPD code or COPD code in any position in any FCE during spell | 34/40 | 85.0% (69.6%–93.3%) | 74,590 |
| Specific AECOPD code in any position or LRTI code or COPD code in the first position in any FCE during spell | 34/40 | 85.0% (69.6%–93.3%) | 37,966 |
| Specific AECOPD code in any position or COPD code in the first position in any FCE during spell | 31/40 | 77.5% (61.3%–88.2%) | 35,793 |
| Specific AECOPD code in any position in any FCE during spell | 31/40 | 77.5% (61.3%–88.2%) | 33,933 |
| Specific AECOPD code in the first position in first FCE during spell | 26/40 | 65.0% (48.5%–78.6%) | 21,387 |
Note:
a
These potential events will represent both true and false positives.
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; AECOPD, acute exacerbations of COPD; LRTI, lower respiratory tract infection; HES, Hospital Episodes Statistics; FCE, finished consultant episodes.