Winter 2012
Issue #33
Contents
News and Announcements: Notable news from HCUP
Databases and Products: New database and product releases
Publication Spotlights: Recent works incorporating HCUP data and tools
HCUP Q&A: Answers to your HCUP questions
Missed the last e-News? Read it on the HCUP-US Website.
The 2010 NEDS Now Available!
The 2010 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) was released in early December. Yielding national estimates of emergency department (ED) visits, the NEDS is the largest all-payer ED databases in the United States and contains information about geographic, hospital, patient, and visit characteristics.
Select aggregated statistics from the 2010 NEDS can be accessed via HCUPnet. For example, on HCUPnet, one can find that there were 128,970,364 ED visits in 2010, with 15.3% of them resulting in hospital admission. A trends query for the NEDS was added to HCUPnet, providing national trends on stays and diagnoses from 2006 to 2010.
The 2010 NEDS is available for purchase through the HCUP Central Distributor
Introducing HCUP's New Interactive Maps
HCUP has produced two interactive maps that allow visitors to view detailed graphical information about the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and HCUP's State Databases.
The NIS' interactive map presents information on the availability of the American Hospital Association’s hospital identification number (HCUP element AHAID) for data years 2000 through 2010. The map also provides a graphical representation of the States participating in HCUP for each data year.
The State Databases' interactive map provides information on the States that include Revisit Variables for data years 2003 through 2010. Users may select a combination of State Databases (the SID, SASD, or SEDD) and years of interest to see which States had the databases of interest and the Revisit Variables available.
For additional information, please contact the HCUP Central Distributor at HCUPDistributor@ahrq.gov or HCUP User Support at hcup@ahrq.gov.
Recently Released: Additional 2010 and 2011 State Databases
Since September 2012, the following 2011 State databases have been released:
The following 2010 State databases have been released:
Complete listings of available databases by year can be found in the SID/SASD/SEDD Application Kit (beginning on page 6). Databases can be purchased through the HCUP Central Distributor, and aggregated statistics for selected states can be accessed via HCUPnet.
For database purchasing questions, please contact the HCUP Central Distributor.
New HCUP Statistical Briefs Posted on HCUP-US
Since September 2012, the following HCUP Statistical Briefs have been released:
These and other Statistical Briefs can be found on the HCUP-US Website.
Publications Using HCUP Data
Pickett-Blakely OE, Huizinga MM, Clark JM. Socioeconomic Trends in Bariatric Surgery Utilization in the USA. Obes Surg. 2012 May;22(5):838-42.
This study uses the 1998, 2001, 2004, and 2007 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) to examine the utilization of bariatric surgery in the U.S. Data were examined by comorbid conditions and select sociodemographic categories, including race, sex, age, insurance, and median income. This article abstract is available via Pubmed.
Zickafoose JS, Benneyworth BD, Riebschleger MP, Espinosa CM, Davis MM. Hospitalizations for Intussusception Before and After the Reintroduction of Rotavirus Vaccine in the United States. Arch Pediatr Asolesc Med. 2012 Apr;166(4):350-5.
This study uses the 1997-2006 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 1997-2009 Kids' Inpatient Database (KID), 2006-2008 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS), the KIDS Trends Files, and HCUPnet to examine whether hospital discharges for intussusceptions in children younger than one year of age have changed since the reintroduction of the rotavirus vaccine in the U.S. This article abstract is available via Pubmed.
To read additional recently-published articles featuring HCUP data, please visit the Research Spotlights page on the HCUP-US Website.
Question: I would like to use the Cost-to-Charge Ratio (CCR) Files, Clinical Classifications Software (CCS), and Comordbidity Software for data years 2000 or earlier. Are these available?
Answer:
Cost-to-Charge Ratio files:
The Cost-to Charge Ratio (CCR) files are only available beginning in 2001 and are unique for each year. We recommend that you use the CCR that corresponds with the year of data. While CCR files are not available before 2001, if you are interested in creating estimates for prior years, we suggest that you increase the ratio for each prior year by 4%. As an example, for 2000, take the 2001 CCRs and increase the ratios by 4%.
Clinical Classifications Software:
While the Clinical Classification Software (CCS) is updated annually (as ICD-9-CM, CPT, and HCPCS codes are revised), the current version of the CCS and CCS for Services and Procedures can be used for back years of data. The CCS tool is continually updated, and the software will take into account whether diagnoses and procedure codes were valid for the date of discharge. The version of the CCS on the HCUP-US Website is based on ICD-9-CM codes valid for January 1980 through the most recent and current ICD updates. The CCS-Services and Procedures software similarly contains CPT codes valid at any time between January 1992 and the most recent and current CPT updates and HCPCS codes valid at any time between January 2002 and the most recent and current HCPCS updates.
Comorbidity Software:
The Comorbidity Software is updated every year, following the October 1 update of diagnosis codes and DRGs. In general, you would apply the Comorbidity Software that is appropriate for the ICD-9-CM codes and DRGs in effect for that data year. The Comorbidity Software does not account for cumulative coding changes to the diagnosis codes and DRGs over multiple years. If you are interested in using the Comorbidity Software for discharges in 2000 and earlier, the Version 1.0 programs (valid for ICD-9-CM codes and DRGs effective October 1, 2000) can be used, but with some caution.
There could be minor discrepancies in comorbidity assignments due to differences in codes in effect for the year of interest. We recommend checking for coding changes in earlier years that may affect your study measures. A reference document showing coding changes is available on the CDC's NCHS Website.
For more information and questions regarding the HCUP e-News, please email hcup@ahrq.gov