OBJECTIVE: To determine the positive predictive value of ICD-9-CM coding of acute myocardial infarction and cardiac procedures.
METHODS: Using chart-abstracted data as the standard, we examined administrative data from the Veterans Health Administration for
a national random sample of 5,151 discharges.
MAIN RESULTS: The positive predictive value of acute myocardial infarction coding in the primary position was 96.9%. The sensitivity and
specificity of coding were, respectively, 96% and 99% for catheterization, 95.7% and 100% for coronary artery bypass graft
surgery, and 90.3% and 99.7% for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.
CONCLUSIONS: The positive predictive value of acute myocardial infarction and related procedure coding is comparable to or better than
previously reported observations of administrative databases.
Key words DRG - information systems - medical records - databases - myocardial infarction
Presented in part at the VA Health Services and Research Department annual meeting in 1998.
Dr. Petersen is an Associate in the Career Development Award Program of the VA Health Services and Research Department (HSR&D)
Service. Dr. Daley was a Senior Research Associate in the same program at the time this research was conducted. This project
was supported by grants IIR 94-054 and PPR 942-D001 from the VA HSR&D Service.