Inclusion of
Comorbidity
in Cancer Statistics
"In clinical practice, the prognostic influences of age and
comorbidity are well recognized, and these influences usually receive careful
consideration during the diverse decisions of clinical judgment. In
statistical studies, however, the effects of comorbidity are generally
ignored."
Alvan R. Feinstein MD, 1974
__________________________________
|
|
|
|
Patients with cancer often have other diseases, illnesses, or conditions
in addition to their index cancer. These other conditions are generally
referred to as comorbidities. Although not a feature of the cancer itself,
comorbidity is an important attribute of the patient. Survival rates are
lower for patients with a greater number and severity of comorbid
conditions. Comorbidity also has direct impact on the care of patients,
selection of initial treatment, and evaluation of treatment effectiveness.
When reporting statistical survival data, hospital-based and national
cancer registries do not routinely take into account these coexisting
medical ailments.
|
Comorbidity
Data Collection Form
Download
|
Web-Based
Comorbidity Calculator
Click Here
|
The Whole
Picture: Coding Comorbidity Video
This 9 minute video presents an overview of coding comorbidity and its significance
to cancer statistics. The video is approximately 150 MB in size.
Click Here
|
The Comparison
of Comorbidity Collection Methods
Recently, several national cancer organizations decided to include
comorbidity information as a required data element for cancer registries.
The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) mandated the
collection of comorbidity information, using the ICD-9 system, from the
hospital discharge “face sheet” beginning with cases abstracted after
January 2003. However, extensive research has demonstrated that a
claims-based approach to comorbidity collection is less accurate and
complete than a chart-based approach. Since there is no single agreed upon
method for collecting comorbidity information and selection of one method
has trade-offs with other methods, we feel that it is a critical health
policy question to compare the performance of a chart-based approach to a
claims-based approach. This NIH-NCI funded project will begin in June of
2006.
|
|
|
|
For further assistance,
please contact Dr. Jay F.
Piccirillo or Dorina
Kallogheri
(314) 362-8641 or (314) 362-7394
|
|
WEBINAR PRESENTATION
|
