Document Detail


Validation of neural tube defects in the full featured--general practice research database.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18344214     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: The General Practice Research Database (GPRD) has been used to identify associations between pregnancy medication exposures and birth defects, but experts have argued that databases such as this one cannot provide detailed information for the valid identification of complicated congenital anomalies. Our objective was to determine if the GPRD could be used to identify cases of neural tube defects (NTDs). METHODS: First, we created algorithms for anencephaly, encephalocele, meningocele, and spina bifida and used them to identify potential cases. We used the algorithms to identify 217 potential NTD cases in either a child's or a mother's record. We validated cases by querying general practitioners (GPs) via questionnaire. Where cases of NTD were identified in the mother's record, in addition to confirming the diagnosis, we asked the GPs if the diagnosis was for the mother or that of her fetus or offspring. RESULTS: Two hundred seventeen cases were identified, and 165 GP questionnaires were returned. We validated an NTD diagnosis for 117 cases, giving our algorithms a positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.71. The PPVs varied by NTD type: 0.81 for anencephaly, 0.83 for cephalocele, 0.64 for meningocele, and 0.47 for spina bifida. CONCLUSIONS: Our identification algorithm was useful in identifying three of the four types of NTDs studied. Additional information is necessary to accurately identify cases of spina bifida.
Authors:
Scott Devine; Suzanne L West; Elizabeth Andrews; Pat Tennis; Susan Eaton; John Thorp; Andrew Olshan
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.; Validation Studies    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety     Volume:  17     ISSN:  1099-1557     ISO Abbreviation:  Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf     Publication Date:  2008 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-05-05     Completed Date:  2008-06-03     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9208369     Medline TA:  Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  434-44     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
University of NC School of Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. sdevine@unc.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / epidemiology*
Adolescent
Adult
Algorithms*
Anencephaly / diagnosis,  epidemiology,  etiology
Databases, Factual / standards*,  statistics & numerical data
Encephalocele / diagnosis,  epidemiology,  etiology
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Meningocele / diagnosis,  epidemiology,  etiology
Neural Tube Defects / diagnosis,  epidemiology*,  etiology
Physicians, Family
Predictive Value of Tests
Pregnancy
Questionnaires
Spinal Dysraphism / diagnosis,  epidemiology,  etiology
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
2 U18 HS10397/HS/AHRQ HHS

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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