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to evaluate maternal and child healthcare, avoidable hospitalisation, access to emergency services among immigrants in Italy.cross sectional study of some health and health care indicators among Italian and foreign population residing in Italy in 2016-2017.indicators based on the national monitoring system coordinated by the Italian National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP) of Rome, calculated on perinatal care (CedAP), hospital discharge (SDO), emergency services (EMUR) archives for the years 2016-2017, by of the following regions: Piedmont, Trento, Bolzano, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, Basilicata, Sicily.number and timeliness of pregnancy visits, number of ultrasounds, invasive prenatal investigations; perinatal mortality rates, birth weight, Apgar score at 5 minutes, need for neonatal resuscitation; standardized rates of avoidable hospitalisation and access to emergency services by triage code.more often than Italians, immigrant women have during pregnancy: less than 5 gynaecological examination (16.3% vs 8.5%), first examination after the 12th week of gestational age (12.5% vs 3.8%), less than 2 ultrasounds (3.8% vs 1.0%). Higher perinatal mortality rates among immigrants compared to Italians (3.6 vs 2.3 x1,000). Higher standardized rates (x1,000) among immigrants compared to Italians of avoidable hospitalisation (men: 2.1 vs 1.4; women: 0.9 vs 0.7) and of white triage codes in emergency (men: 62.0 vs 32.7; women: 52.9 vs 31.4).study findings show differences in access and outcomes of healthcare between Italians and immigrants. National monitoring system of indicators, coordinated by INMP, represents a useful tool for healthcare intervention policies aimed to health equity.

Background Validation of administrative databases for cerebrovascular diseases is crucial for epidemiological, outcome, and health services research. The aim of this study was to validate ICD-9 codes for hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke in administrative databases, to use them for a comprehensive assessment of the burden of disease in terms of major outcomes, such as mortality, hospital readmissions, and use of healthcare resources. Methods We considered the hospital discharge abstract database of the Umbria Region (890,000 residents). Source population was represented by patients aged >18 discharged from hospital with a diagnosis of hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke between 2012 and 2014 using ICD-9-CM codes in primary position. We randomly selected and reviewed medical charts of cases and non-cases from hospitals. For case ascertainment we considered symptoms and instrumental tests reported in the medical charts. Diagnostic accuracy measures were computed using 2x2 tables. Results We reviewed 767 medical charts for cases and 78 charts for non-cases. Diagnostic accuracy measures were: subarachnoid hemorrhage: sensitivity (SE) 100% (95% CI: 97%-100%), specificity (SP) 96% (90–99), positive predictive value (PPV) 98% (93–100), negative predictive value (NPV) 100% (95–100); intracerebral hemorrhage: SE 100% (97–100), SP 98% (91–100), PPV 98% (94–100), NPV 100% (95–100); other and unspecified intracranial hemorrhage: SE 100% (97–100), SP 96% (90–99), PPV 98% (93–100), NPV 100% (95–100); ischemic stroke due to occlusion and stenosis of precerebral arteries: SE 99% (94–100), SP 66 (57–75), PPV 70% (61–77), NPV 99% (93–100); occlusion of cerebral arteries: SE 100% (97–100), SP 87% (78–93), PPV 91% (84–95), NPV 100% (95–100); acute, but ill-defined, cerebrovascular disease: SE 100% (97–100), SP 78% (69–86), PPV % 83 (75–89), NPV 100% (95–100). Conclusions Case ascertainment for both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke showed good or high levels of accuracy within the regional healthcare databases in Umbria. This database can confidently be employed for epidemiological, outcome, and health services research related to any type of stroke.

Parkinson's disease is known to pose a significant burden on society in industrialized countries. However, few studies have been conducted in Italy using administrative healthcare databases for epidemiological purposes. We wanted to estimate the incidence and prevalence rates of Parkinson's disease in the Italian region of Umbria by means of linkage between several sources of administrative healthcare data: hospitalization episodes, exemptions from medical charges, drug prescriptions from general practitioners and physicians working in the public sector. Using a pre-defined algorithm, we estimated incident and prevalent cases of Parkinson's disease for the year 2016. The regional incidence rate, adjusted with Italian standard population data, was 0.40 new cases/1000 person-years (0.41 in females, 0.39 in males). We estimated that 5550 subjects were affected by Parkinson's disease, leading to an age-adjusted prevalence rate of 5.42/1000 inhabitants. Prevalence and incidence increased with age and male gender. However, due to the longer life expectancy of females, the absolute number of prevalent cases was greater among females. The heterogeneity of spatial distribution of disease was high. A considerable proportion of prevalent cases was hospitalized in 2016. The most recurrent reasons for hospitalization episodes were disorders related to the nervous system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and musculoskeletal and connective tissue apparatus. The study findings support the feasibility of future epidemiological studies of Parkinson's disease with administrative data as well as the need for an integrative care pathway for the patients with Parkinson's disease.

Background Peptic ulcer is a widespread disease, frequently complicated by perforation and bleeding. Administrative databases are useful tool to perform epidemiological and drug utilization studies, but they need a validation process based on a comparison with the original data contained in the medical charts. Our aim was to evaluate the accuracy of the ICD-9 codes in identifying patients with peptic ulcer and gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the regional administrative database of Umbria. Methods The index test of our study was the hospital discharge abstract database of the Umbria region (Italy), while the reference standard was the clinical information collected in the medical charts. The study population were adult patients with a hospital discharge for peptic ulcer or gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the period 2012-2014. A random sample of cases and non-cases was selected and the corresponding medical charts were reviewed. Cases of peptic ulcer were confirmed based on endoscopy, radiology, and surgery, while adjudication of gastrointestinal hemorrhage was based on presence of hematemesis, melena, and rectal bleeding. Results Overall, we reviewed 445 clinical charts of cases and 80 clinical charts of non-cases. The diagnostic accuracy results were: code 531 (gastric ulcer), sensitivity and NPV 98%, specificity 88%, and PPV 91%; code 532 (duodenal ulcer), sensitivity and NPV 100%, specificity and PPV 98%; code 534 (gastrojejunal ulcer), sensitivity and NPV 100%, specificity 70%, and PPV 45%; code 578 (gastrointestinal hemorrhage), sensitivity 96%, specificity 90%, PPV and NPV 94%. Conclusions Our results showed a high level of diagnostic accuracy for most of the codes considered. The ICD-9 code 534 of gastrojejunal ulcer had a lower level of specificity and PPV due to false positives, being mainly misclassifications for coding errors. These validated codes can be used for future epidemiological studies and for health services research.

To assess if maternal risk profile and Hospital assistential levels were able to influence the inter-Hospitals comparison in the class 1 and 3 of the "The Ten Group Classification System" (TGCS).A population-based analysis using data from Institutional data-base of an Italian Region was carried out. The 11 maternity wards were divided into two categories: second-level hospitals (SLH), and first-level hospitals (FLH). The recorded deliveries were classified according to the TGCS. To analyze if different maternal characteristics and the hospitals assistential level could influence the cesarean section (CS) risk, a multivariate analysis was done considering separately women in the TGCS class 1 and 3.From January 2011 to December 2013 were recorded 19,987 deliveries. Of those 7,693 were in the TGCS class 1 and 4,919 in the class 3. The CS rates were 20.8% and 14.7% in class 1 (p 0.0001) and 6.9% and 5.3% (p 0.0230) in class 3, respectively in the FLH and SLH. The multivariate logistic regression showed that the FLH, older maternal age and gestational diabetes were independent risk factors for CS in groups 1 and 3. Obesity and gestational hypertension were also independent risk factors for group 1.TGCS is a useful tool to analyze the incidence of CS in a single center but in comparing different Hospitals, maternal characteristics and different assistential levels should be considered as potential bias.

Introduction Administrative healthcare databases are useful tools to study healthcare outcomes and to monitor the health status of a population. Patients with cancer can be identified through disease-specific codes, prescriptions and physician claims, but prior validation is required to achieve an accurate case definition. The objective of this protocol is to assess the accuracy of International Classification of Diseases Ninth Revision—Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes for breast, lung and colorectal cancers in identifying patients diagnosed with the relative disease in three Italian administrative databases. Methods and analysis Data from the administrative databases of Umbria Region (910 000 residents), Local Health Unit 3 of Napoli (1 170 000 residents) and Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region (1 227 000 residents) will be considered. In each administrative database, patients with the first occurrence of diagnosis of breast, lung or colorectal cancer between 2012 and 2014 will be identified using the following groups of ICD-9-CM codes in primary position: (1) 233.0 and (2) 174.x for breast cancer; (3) 162.x for lung cancer; (4) 153.x for colon cancer and (5) 154.0–154.1 and 154.8 for rectal cancer. Only incident cases will be considered, that is, excluding cases that have the same diagnosis in the 5 years (2007–2011) before the period of interest. A random sample of cases and non-cases will be selected from each administrative database and the corresponding medical charts will be assessed for validation by pairs of trained, independent reviewers. Case ascertainment within the medical charts will be based on (1) the presence of a primary nodular lesion in the breast, lung or colon–rectum, documented with imaging or endoscopy and (2) a cytological or histological documentation of cancer from a primary or metastatic site. Sensitivity and specificity with 95% CIs will be calculated. Dissemination Study results will be disseminated widely through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences.

Objectives To assess the accuracy of International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision–Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes in identifying subjects with lung cancer. Design A cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study comparing ICD-9-CM 162.x code (index test) in primary position with medical chart (reference standard). Case ascertainment was based on the presence of a primary nodular lesion in the lung and cytological or histological documentation of cancer from a primary or metastatic site. Setting Three operative units: administrative databases from Umbria Region (890 000 residents), ASL Napoli 3 Sud (NA) (1 170 000 residents) and Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) Region (1 227 000 residents). Participants Incident subjects with lung cancer (n=386) diagnosed in primary position between 2012 and 2014 and a population of non-cases (n=280). Outcome measures Sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) for 162.x code. Results 130 cases and 94 non-cases were randomly selected from each database and the corresponding medical charts were reviewed. Most of the diagnoses for lung cancer were performed in medical departments. True positive rates were high for all the three units. Sensitivity was 99% (95% CI 95% to 100%) for Umbria, 97% (95% CI 91% to 100%) for NA, and 99% (95% CI 95% to 100%) for FVG. The false positive rates were 24%, 37% and 23% for Umbria, NA and FVG, respectively. PPVs were 79% (73% to 83%)%) for Umbria, 58% (53% to 63%)%) for NA and 79% (73% to 84%)%) for FVG. Conclusions Case ascertainment for lung cancer based on imaging or endoscopy associated with histological examination yielded an excellent sensitivity in all the three administrative databases. PPV was moderate for Umbria and FVG but lower for NA.

Introduction Administrative healthcare databases are useful tools to study healthcare outcomes and to monitor the health status of a population. Patients with cancer can be identified through disease-specific codes, prescriptions and physician claims, but prior validation is required to achieve an accurate case definition. The objective of this protocol is to assess the accuracy of International Classification of Diseases Ninth Revision-Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes for breast, lung and colorectal cancers in identifying patients diagnosed with the relative disease in three Italian administrative databases. Methods and analysis Data from the administrative databases of Umbria Region (910,000 residents), Local Health Unit 3 of Napoli (1,170,000 residents) and Friuli--Venezia Giulia Region (1,227,000 residents) will be considered. In each administrative database, patients with the first occurrence of diagnosis of breast, lung or colorectal cancer between 2012 and 2014 will be identified using the following groups of ICD-9-CM codes in primary position: (1) 233.0 and (2) 174.x for breast cancer; (3) 162.x for lung cancer; (4) 153.x for colon cancer and (5) 154.0-154.1 and 154.8 for rectal cancer. Only incident cases will be considered, that is, excluding cases that have the same diagnosis in the 5 years (2007-2011) before the period of interest. A random sample of cases and non-cases will be selected from each administrative database and the corresponding medical charts will be assessed for validation by pairs of trained, independent reviewers. Case ascertainment within the medical charts will be based on (1) the presence of a primary nodular lesion in the breast, lung or colon-rectum, documented with imaging or endoscopy and (2) a cytological or histological documentation of cancer from a primary or metastatic site. Sensitivity and specificity with 95% CIs will be calculated. Dissemination Study results will be disseminated widely through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences.