Evaluation of the Validity of Codes for Dermatologic Conditions

What is the scope and performance of validated approaches for identifying dermatologic conditions using codes in US-based administrative datasets?This systematic review of 59 studies found that classification accuracy varied widely by condition and coding strategy. The highest-performing algorithms often required 2 or more codes, dermatologist encounters, or prescription/procedural data, with positive predictive values frequently more than 90%; some common conditions, like seborrheic dermatitis, vitiligo, and rosacea, lacked validated approaches.The results suggest that studies using administrative datasets should use validated classification algorithms, and further studies are needed to address gaps for common and understudied conditions.

Corresponding Author: John S. Barbieri, MD, MBA, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 (jbarbieri@bwh.harvard.edu).

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