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. 2022 May;41(5):1485-1490.
doi: 10.1177/07334648211067526. Epub 2022 Feb 17.

Assessing the Accuracy of International Classification of Diseases (ICD) Coding for Delirium

Victoria L Chuen  1   2 , Adrian C H Chan  1   3 , Jin Ma  4 , Shabbir M H Alibhai  5   6 , Vicky Chau  5   6
Affiliations

Assessing the Accuracy of International Classification of Diseases (ICD) Coding for Delirium

Victoria L Chuen et al. J Appl Gerontol. 2022 May.

Abstract

Objective: We assessed the accuracy of the ICD-10 code for delirium (F05) and its relationship with delirium discharge summary documentation.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review at three academic hospitals. The Chart-based Delirium Identification Instrument (CHART-DEL) was used to identify 108 hospitalized patients aged ≥65 years with delirium, and 758 patients without delirium as controls. We assessed the proportion of patients who received the F05 code and calculated the sensitivity and specificity. We compared the rates of F05 code received between patients with and without "delirium" documented in the discharge summary.

Results: Among delirious patients, 46.3% received a F05 code, which has a sensitivity of 46.3% and specificity of 99.6% for delirium. Of charts with "delirium" in the discharge summary (n = 67), 67.2% were appropriately coded.

Conclusions: Current ICD-10 data inadequately capture delirium. Delirium documentation in the discharge summary is associated with improved delirium coding.

Keywords: ICD-10; aged; delirium; hospital discharge; medical documentation; medical record.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: VC1 received a grant through the Savlov/Schmidt Scholars Program in Geriatrics (Sinai Health System/University Health Network) and the Comprehensive Research Experience for Medical Students (CREMS) Office (University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine). They have no other financial or personal conflicts to disclose. AC received a grant through the Savlov/Schmidt Scholars Program in Geriatrics (Sinai Health System/University Health Network). They have no other financial or personal conflicts to disclose. JM has no financial or personal conflicts to disclose. SA has no financial or personal conflicts to disclose. VC2 has no financial or personal conflicts to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Patient screening, inclusion, and exclusion.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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