Citation

McCarthy ML, Shore AD, Serpi T, Gertner M, Demeter L. J. Trauma 2005; 58(1): 154-161.

Affiliation

From the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (M.L.M.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (A.D.S.), Office of Injury Prevention and Health Assessment, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (T.S.), Maryland Institute for Emergency Medi

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

15674166

Abstract

BACKGROUND:: This study aimed to examine the validity of using Maryland hospital discharge data to characterize injuries sustained by trauma patients. METHODS:: Maryland hospital discharge and Maryland trauma registry data for 1999 were merged, and the extent of agreement regarding the presence and severity of injuries sustained was evaluated. RESULTS:: The mean Injury Severity Score was 8.4 according to the Maryland hospital discharge data and 10 according to the Maryland trauma registry data (p < 0.0001). The Maryland hospital discharge data identified 95% or more of all moderate to severe injuries (Abbreviated Injury Score, >/=2) for all body regions except the head. There was substantial agreement between the two data sets for mechanism of injury (weighted kappa, 0.62), the number of preexisting conditions present (weighted kappa, 0.45) and final disposition (weighted kappa, 0.78). CONCLUSIONS:: The Maryland hospital discharge data are a valid source for documenting the nature and severity of injuries sustained by trauma patients, except for those with a relatively minor head injury.