Development of an algorithm to classify Primary Care Electronic Health Records of alcohol consumption : experience using data-linkage from UK-Biobank and Primary Care electronic health data sources
Abstract
Objectives Develop a novel algorithm to categorise alcohol consumption using primary care electronic health records (EHRs) and assess its reliability by comparing this classification with self-reported alcohol consumption data obtained from the UK Biobank (UKB) cohort. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting The UKB, a population-based cohort with participants aged between 40 and 69 years recruited across the UK between 2006 and 2010. Participants UKB participants from Scotland with linked primary care data. Primary and secondary outcome measures Create a rule-based multiclass algorithm to classify alcohol consumption reported by Scottish UKB participants and compare it with their classification using data present in primary care EHRs based on Read Codes. We evaluated agreement metrics (simple agreement and kappa statistic). Results Among the Scottish UKB participants, 18 838 (69%) had at least one Read Code related to alcohol consumption and were used in the classification. The agreement of alcohol consumption categories between UKB and primary care data, including assessments within 5 years was 59.6%, and kappa was 0.23 (95% CI 0.21 to 0.24). Differences in classification between the two sources were statistically significant (p<0.001); More individuals were classified as ‘sensible drinkers’ and in lower alcohol consumption levels in primary care records compared with the UKB. Agreement improved slightly when using only numerical values (k=0.29; 95% CI 0.27 to 0.31) and decreased when using qualitative descriptors only (k=0.18;95% CI 0.16 to 0.20). Conclusion Our algorithm classifies alcohol consumption recorded in Primary Care EHRs into discrete meaningful categories. These results suggest that alcohol consumption may be underestimated in primary care EHRs. Using numerical values (alcohol units) may improve classification when compared with qualitative descriptors.
Citation
Fraile Navarro , D , Azcoaga-Lorenzo , A , Agrawal , U , Jani , B , Fagbamigbe , A , Currie , D B , Baldacchino , A M & Sullivan , F 2022 , ' Development of an algorithm to classify Primary Care Electronic Health Records of alcohol consumption : experience using data-linkage from UK-Biobank and Primary Care electronic health data sources ' , BMJ Open , vol. 12 , no. 2 , e054376 . https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054376
Publication
BMJ Open
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
2044-6055Type
Journal article
Description
Funding: AA-L received funding from an HDRUK Fellowship for some of her research time. This project was funded by a research bursary from NHS Fife R&D department. Award date 10 April 2019.Collections
Items in the St Andrews Research Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Effect of free medicine distribution on health care costs in Canada over 3 years : a secondary analysis of the CLEAN meds randomized clinical trial
Persaud, Nav; Bedard, Michael; Boozary, Andrew; Glazier, Richard H; Gomes, Tara; Hwang, Stephen W; Jüni, Peter; Law, Michael R; Mamdani, Muhammad; Manns, Braden; Martin, Danielle; Morgan, Steven G; Oh, Paul; Pinto, Andrew D; Shah, Baiju R; Sullivan, Frank; Umali, Norman; Thorpe, Kevin E; Tu, Karen; Wu, Fangyun; Laupacis, Andreas; CLEAN Meds study team (2023-05-26) - Journal articleIMPORTANCE : Few interventions are proven to reduce total health care costs, and addressing cost-related nonadherence has the potential to do so. OBJECTIVE : To determine the effect of eliminating out-of-pocket medication ... -
Pädiatrische versorgungskonzepte in Europa
Weber, Martin W; Backhaus, Sophia; Chukwujama, Obiora; Fenski, Friederike; Henking, Christoph; Schatte, Laura; Aleman-Diaz, Aixa Y (2018-01-19) - Journal articleTo promote children’s health in Europe, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed the European child and adolescent health strategy 2015–2020, which is supported and will be implemented by all Member States (MS). In ... -
Arts-based approaches to promoting health in sub-Saharan Africa : a scoping review
Bunn, Christopher; Kalinga, Chisomo; Mtema, Otiyela; Abdulla, Sharifa; DIllip, Angel; Lwanda, John; Mtenga, Sally M.; Sharp, Jo; Strachan, Zoë; Gray, Cindy M. (2020-05-21) - Journal itemIntroduction Arts-based approaches to health promotion have been used widely across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), particularly in public health responses to HIV/AIDS. Such approaches draw on deep-rooted historical traditions ...