Identifying new-onset conditions and pre-existing conditions using lookback periods in Australian health administrative datasets

ConclusionThe described algorithm using a lookback period is a pragmatic, reliable and robust means of identifying the new-onset and pre-existing patient conditions, thereby enriching the existing datasets predating the availability of the COF. The findings also highlight the value of concatenating a series of hospital patient admissions to more comprehensively adjudicate the pre-existing conditions, rather than assessing the index admission alone.
Source: International Journal for Quality in Health Care - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research