Identification of Fall-Related Injuries in Nursing Home Residents Using Administrative Claims Data

Joel Mintz, Matthew S. Duprey, Andrew R. Zullo, Yoojin Lee, Douglas P. Kiel, Lori A. Daiello, Kenneth E. Rodriguez, Arjun K. Venkatesh, Sarah D. Berry

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Fall-related injuries (FRIs) are a leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and costs among nursing home (NH) residents. Carefully defining FRIs in administrative data is essential for improving injury-reduction efforts. We developed a series of novel claims-based algorithms for identifying FRIs in long-stay NH residents. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort of residents of NH residing there for at least 100 days who were continuously enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B in 2016. FRIs were identified using 4 claims-based case-qualifying (CQ) definitions (Inpatient [CQ1], Outpatient and Provider with Procedure [CQ2], Outpatient and Provider with Fall [CQ3], or Inpatient or Outpatient and Provider with Fall [CQ4]). Correlation was calculated using phi correlation coefficients. Results: Of 153 220 residents (mean [SD] age 81.2 [12.1], 68.0% female), we identified 10 104 with at least one FRI according to one or more CQ definition. Among 2 950 residents with hip fractures, 1 852 (62.8%) were identified by all algorithms. Algorithm CQ4 (n = 326-2 775) identified more FRIs across all injuries while CQ1 identified less (n = 21-2 320). CQ2 identified more intracranial bleeds (1 028 vs 448) than CQ1. For nonfracture categories, few FRIs were identified using CQ1 (n = 20-488). Of the 2 320 residents with hip fractures identified by CQ1, 2 145 (92.5%) had external cause of injury codes. All algorithms were strongly correlated, with phi coefficients ranging from 0.82 to 0.99. Conclusions: Claims-based algorithms applied to outpatient and provider claims identify more nonfracture FRIs. When identifying risk factors, stakeholders should select the algorithm(s) suitable for the FRI and study purpose.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1421-1429
Number of pages9
JournalJournals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
Volume77
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Accidental falls
  • Algorithms
  • Fractures
  • Health care administrative claims
  • Nursing home

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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