Concordance of ICD-10 Codes and the Clinical Diagnosis of Alcoholic Hepatitis

Introduction: Many studies on alcoholic hepatitis (AH) use the International Classification of Disease (ICD) coding to identify patients. Data regarding the diagnostic accuracy of ICD codes for AH are limited.

Methods: A total of 151 patients with ICD-10 codes for AH were reviewed for the presence or absence of AH using standardized diagnostic criteria.

Results: Sixty-eight of the 151 patients met AH criteria, corresponding to a positive predictive value of 45%. Patients with AH experienced higher model for end-stage liver disease and mortality than those who did not ( P < 0.05).

Discussion: Our results suggest ICD-10 codes are not reliable for identifying AH. Studies using the ICD codes should be interpreted cautiously.