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Poorly Controlled Cardiovascular Risk Factors and ICD-9-CM Codes
- Nicolas Rodondi, MD, MAS;
- Eve A. Kerr, MD, MPH; and
- Joe V. Selby, MD, MPH
- From University Outpatient Clinic, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Center for Practice Management and Outcomes Research and University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48113; and Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, CA 94612.
IN RESPONSE:
We agree that it is difficult to accurately capture disease severity and control with commonly used ICD-9 classifications. For this reason, we used ICD-9-CM codes, along with ambulatory blood pressure measurements, laboratory results, and prescriptions, to identify the presence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus but not to grade their degree of severity or control. As described in our Appendix …
