ASSESSMENT OF THE DIAGNOSES OF CROHNS-DISEASE AND ULCERATIVE-COLITIS IN A DANISH HOSPITAL INFORMATION-SYSTEM

Background: Our aim was to estimate the completeness-that is, whether all patients were included in the system-and the validity-that is, whe ther the diagnostic criteria were fulfilled for the patients registere d-of the diagnoses of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in a Dani sh hospital system. Methods: Information in a regional hospital system , in the County of North Jutland, Denmark, was compared with hospital records and information in a pathology system. Results: The analysis o f the completeness included 143 patients with Crohn's disease and 285 patients with ulcerative colitis. The completeness of the regional hos pital system using the pathology system as a reference standard was 94 % for both diseases. The analysis of the validity included 281 patient s registered as having Crohn's disease and 506 patients registered as having ulcerative colitis. The validity of the two diagnoses was 97% a nd 90%, respectively. Conclusions: The regional hospital system showed few misclassifications of the diagnoses of Crohn's disease and ulcera tive colitis. Thus the nationwide hospital system (based on the region al hospital systems) may provide a unique study base for future resear ch.