THE PREVALENCE OF INSOMNIA AND SLEEP APNEA IN DISCHARGE ABSTRACT DATA: A CALL TO IMPROVE DATA QUALITY

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Public Health
• Healthcare Informatics

Background:

• Insomnia and sleep apnea are prevalent sleep disorders with significant comorbid conditions.
• Rising prevalence necessitates accurate detection in acute care settings.
• Current diagnostic coding may not fully capture these conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the prevalence of insomnia and sleep apnea in hospitalized patients.
• To evaluate the accuracy of ICD-10 coding for these sleep disorders in inpatient settings.
• To identify the need for improved methods for capturing and coding sleep disorders.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 3,074 inpatient records in Calgary, Alberta.
• Data collected between January 1, 2015, and June 30, 2015.
• Comparison of chart review findings with ICD-10 codes.

Main Results:

• Estimated prevalence: Insomnia 10.36%, Sleep Apnea 6.56%.
• Low sensitivity and high specificity of ICD-10 codes for both conditions.
• Significant association between sleep disorders and comorbid conditions.

Conclusions:

• Current ICD-10 coding underestimates the prevalence of insomnia and sleep apnea in hospitals.
• Alternate methods are crucial for accurate identification and coding of these sleep disorders.
• Improved detection and coding will enhance clinical management and patient outcomes.