The Western Denmark Cardiac Computed Tomography Registry: a review and validation study

Abstract

BackgroundAs a subregistry to the Western Denmark Heart Registry (WDHR), the Western Denmark Cardiac Computed Tomography Registry (WDHR-CCTR) is a clinical database established in 2008 to monitor and improve the quality of cardiac computed tomography (CT) in Western Denmark.ObjectiveWe examined the content, data quality, and research potential of the WDHR-CCTR.MethodsWe retrieved 2008–2012 data to examine the 1) content; 2) completeness of procedure registration using the Danish National Patient Registry as reference; 3) completeness of variable registration comparing observed vs expected numbers; and 4) positive predictive values as well as negative predictive values of 19 main patient and procedure variables.ResultsBy December 31, 2012, almost 22,000 cardiac CTs with up to 40 variables for each procedure have been registered. Of these, 87% were coronary CT angiography performed in patients with symptoms indicative of coronary artery disease. Compared with the Danish National Patient Registry, the overall procedure completeness was 72%. However, an additional medical record review of 282 patients registered in the Danish National Patient Registry, but not in the WDHR-CCTR, showed that coronary CT angiographies accounted for only 23% of all nonregistered cardiac CTs, indicating >90% completeness of coronary CT angiographies in the WDHR-CCTR. The completeness of individual variables varied substantially (range: 0%–100%), but was >85% for more than 70% of all variables. Using medical record review of 250 randomly selected patients as reference standard, the positive predictive value for the 19 variables ranged from 89% to 100% (overall 97%), whereas the negative predictive value ranged from 97% to 100% (overall 99%). Stratification by center status showed consistently high positive and negative predictive values for both university (96%/99%) and nonuniversity centers (97%/99%).ConclusionWDHR-CCTR provides ongoing prospective registration of all cardiac CTs performed in Western Denmark since 2008. Overall, the registry data have a high degree of completeness and validity, making it a valuable tool for clinical epidemiological research.

The completeness of chest X-ray procedure codes in the Danish National Patient Registry

“…Only two studies have looked at diagnostic investigations. Nielsen et al7 found a completeness of registrations of coronary CT angiographies of 72% in the DNPR. In a report from the Danish Health and Medicines Authority from 2003, the completeness of the records of fetal umbilical artery flow velocity in the DNPR was 47% compared to the medical records 6.…”

Increased Prevalence of Coronary Artery Disease in Severe Psoriasis and Severe Atopic Dermatitis

“…Results of the CCTA were blinded from the investigators until the cohort was established. Baseline information regarding traditional risk factors and demographic data were recorded from the validated database33 .…”

Positive predictive value of cardiac examination, procedure and surgery codes in the Danish National Patient Registry: a population-based validation study

“…The only previous study to examine the validity of cardiac examinations in the DNPR focused on 282 patients, on whom cardiac CT angiography was performed between 2008 and 2012 9. Using medical records as reference, this study found a PPV of 100% (95% CI 99% to 100%) for this examination 9.…”