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. 2008 Feb;43(1 Pt 1):313-26.
doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6773.2007.00748.x.

Identification of dementia: agreement among national survey data, medicare claims, and death certificates

Truls Ostbye  1 , Donald H Taylor Jr, Elizabeth C Clipp, Lynn Van Scoyoc, Brenda L Plassman
Affiliations

Identification of dementia: agreement among national survey data, medicare claims, and death certificates

Truls Ostbye et al. Health Serv Res. 2008 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the proportion of seniors with dementia from three independent data sources and their agreement.

Data sources: The longitudinal Asset and Health Dynamics among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) study (n=7,974), Medicare claims, and death certificate data.

Study design: Estimates of the proportion of individuals with dementia from: (1) self- or proxy-reported cognitive status measures from surveys, (2) Medicare claims, and (3) death certificates. Agreement using Cohen's kappa; multivariate logistic regression.

Principal findings: The proportion varied substantially among the data sources. Agreement was poor (kappa: 0.14-0.46 depending upon comparison assessed); the individuals identified had relatively modest overlap.

Conclusions: Estimates of dementia occurrence based on cognitive status measures from three independent data sources were not interchangeable. Further validation of these sources is needed. Caution should be used if policy is based on only one data source.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Time Frame for Data Collection
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Living Asset and Health Dynamics among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) Participants with Medicare Claims: Estimated Proportions with Dementia. (b) Deceased AHEAD Participants with Death Certificates and Medicare Claims: Estimated Proportions with Dementia
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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