CoDifiCaR – Chronic kidney disease coding: what’s its relevance? A multicenter study in six Family Health Units in Vila Nova de Gaia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v41i2.13871Keywords:
Chronic kidney disease, Codification, ICPC-2, Glomerular filtration rate, Primary health careAbstract
Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a serious public health problem. Some of the main risk factors for its development are common to the leading causes of morbidity in primary health care, making it important to identify these patients and register the problem in the computerized clinical file.
Objectives: We aim to estimate the prevalence of CKD in the Family Health Units (USF) studied and identify the factors that influence the physician’s coding of CKD.
Methods: Participants from the six USF participating in the study (n=55) who had a record of creatinine value in the last five years were included. A questionnaire was applied to physicians at these USFs to assess possible barriers associated with CKD coding.
Results: 30,760 participants were included in the study. Of these, 4,800 had a GFR <60ml/min (15.6%), and 1,863 had the U99 code (6.1%). Only 2.8% simultaneously had a GFR <60ml/min and a U99 code (n=862). The prevalence of CKD was 6.4%. The questionnaire had a response ratio of 69.1%. Most physicians reported they knew the U99 code (n=33, 86.9%) and referred to using it (n=31, 81.6%). The main reasons that influenced the non-coding were forgetfulness (n=21, 55.3%), lack of time in the consultation (n=19, 50%), and the lack of a specific International Classification of Primary Care, 2nd edition (ICPC-2) code for CKD (n=16, 42.1%).
Conclusions: Given the prevalence of CKD and its implications, it must be registered in the list of problems. A more specific code for CKD would allow better identification and monitoring of these patients.
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