Concordance of ICD-10 Codes and the Clinical Diagnosis of Alcoholic Hepatitis

INTRODUCTION: Many studies on alcoholic hepatitis (AH) use the International Classification of Disease (ICD) coding to identify patients. Data regarding the diagnostic accuracy of ICD codes for AH are limited. METHODS: A total of 151 patients with ICD-10 codes for AH were reviewed for the presence or absence of AH using standardized diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: Sixty-eight of the 151 patients met AH criteria, corresponding to a positive predictive value of 45%. Patients with AH experienced higher model for end-stage liver disease and mortality than those who did not (P < 0.05). DISCUSSION: Our results suggest ICD-10 codes are not reliable for identifying AH. Studies using the ICD codes should be interpreted cautiously.

Automated summary

The diagnostic accuracy of ICD codes for alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is limited. Studies using the ICD codes should be interpreted cautiously.