Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39979043›Full record

Observational studyBMJ open2025

Development and evaluation of a national administrative code-based system for estimation of hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism in Ireland.

Ciara Kirke, Richard Daly, Therese Dalchan, Jacqui Curley, Ruth Buckley, Deirdre Lynch, Maeve P Crowley, Barry Kevane, Emer Gallagher, Ann Marie O'Neill and 1 more

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Ciara KirkeNational Medication Safety Programme, Dublin, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5402-9018
Richard DalyCork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5435-8740
Therese DalchanHealth Services Executive (HSE), Dublin, Ireland.
Jacqui CurleyHealthcare Pricing Office, Dublin, Ireland.
Ruth BuckleyQuality & Patient Safety Department, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Deirdre LynchMater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Maeve P CrowleyDepartment of Hematology, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2245-1227
Barry KevaneDepartment of Hematology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4119-2718
Emer GallagherNational Finance Division, Dublin, Ireland.
Ann Marie O'NeillThrombosis Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
Fionnuala Ní ÁinleDepartment of Hematology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland fniainle@mater.ie.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0163-792X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHospital-acquired venous thromboembolism (HA-VTE) is a significant patient safety concern contributing to preventable deaths. Internationally, estimating HA-VTE relies on administrative codes, in particular the International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes, but their accuracy has been debated. The Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) launched a National Key Performance Indicator (KPI) in 2019 for monitoring HA-VTE rates using the Australian Modification of ICD-10 (ICD-10-AM) codes.

objectivesThis study aims to (1) describe the development of the national HSE KPI and determine the national HA-VTE occurrence rate per 1000 discharges in 2022; (2) assess the contribution of each VTE ICD-10-AM code to the national HA-VTE figure; (3) estimate the positive predictive value (PPV) of the HSE KPI against true HA-VTE, in a single large tertiary (Irish Model 4) hospital.

methodsA retrospective observational study used national data from Irish publicly funded acute hospitals, focusing on discharges from 2022. The HSE KPI was based on an assessment of HA-VTE as a rate per 1000 hospital discharges (as per the national metadata). Inclusion criteria were inpatient only, length of stay ≥2 days, age ≥16 years and non-maternity admission type (elective or emergency only). Maternity and paediatric hospitals were excluded.The PPV was determined through a detailed review of HA-VTE cases identified through the HSE KPI from April 2020 to October 2022 in a single large tertiary referral centre and determining the proportion indicating a true HA-VTE. Data analysis employed GraphPad Prism (Horsham, PA, USA).

resultsThe national mean monthly HA-VTE rate was 11.38 per 1000 discharges in 2022. Pulmonary embolism (PE) without acute cor pulmonale (I26.9) was the most frequent contributor (59%). The mean PPV in the tertiary hospital was 0.37, with false positives attributed to acute illnesses, historical VTE coding errors and dual VTE diagnoses at admission. DISCUSSION: HA-VTE is a preventable cause of morbidity and mortality, necessitating accurate measurement. Administrative codes, while cost-effective and timely, reveal limitations in precision. This study identifies opportunities to improve code accuracy, address coding challenges and enhance the PPV.

conclusionThis study provides valuable insights into estimated HA-VTE rates, the contribution of each individual ICD-10-AM code to the overall HA-VTE rate and the PPV of the measure. Ongoing refinement and quality enhancement are needed.

Indexed as

Clinical CodingInternational Classification of DiseasesVenous ThromboembolismAdultAgedFemaleHumansIrelandMaleMiddle AgedQuality Indicators, Health CareRetrospective StudiesHAEMATOLOGYInformation ExtractionIrelandQuality ImprovementQuality in health careRetrospective Studies

Identifiers

PMID39979043
PMCPMC11842983

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.