Online Appendix
We used the following criteria to define outcomes and comorbid illnesses based on previous
published work.
Condition
Criteria
ICD9 or CPT Codes
Hypertension
Two or more physician-assigned
diagnoses in ambulatory-visit
databases, or one outpatient
diagnosis plus receipt of
antihypertensive pharmacologic
therapy found in pharmacy
database (1).
ICD-9: 401–405
Diabetes
Two or more physician-assigned
diagnoses in ambulatory-visit or
hospitalization databases, or any
prescription for diabetes (2).
ICD-9: 250, 300 57.2, 362.0,
366.41
Coronary artery disease
A history of or diagnosis of any of
the following 5 conditions:
Acute myocardial
infarction
Primary discharge diagnosis in
hospitalization databases (1).
ICD-9: 410
Unstable and stable angina
Primary discharge diagnosis in
hospitalization databases or
physician-assigned diagnosis in
ambulatory-visit database (1).
ICD-9: 411, 413
Chronic coronary artery
disease
Primary discharge diagnosis in
hospitalization databases or
physician-assigned diagnosis in
ambulatory-visit database (1).
ICD-9: 414.0, 414.8, 414.9
Percutaneous coronary
intervention
Procedural code in hospitalization
and ambulatory-visit databases (1).
ICD-9: 36.01–36.02, 36.05,
36.06, 36.09
CPT: 92980–92981, 92982,
92984–92996
Coronary artery bypass
surgery
Procedural code in hospitalization
databases (1).
ICD-9: 36.10–36.17, 36.19
CPT: 33510–33519, 33521–
33523, 33533–33536
Congestive heart failure
Primary discharge diagnosis in
hospitalization databases or
physician-assigned diagnosis in
ambulatory-visit database.
ICD-9: 398.91, 402.01,
402.11, 402.91, 428.0, 428.1,
428.9
Chronic lung disease
Primary discharge diagnosis of
chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease or chronic bronchitis in
hospitalization databases, or
physician-assigned diagnoses in
ambulatory visit databases (1).
ICD-9: 491.x, 492.x, 493.x,
496, 518.1, 518.2
Smoking
Primary discharge diagnosis in
hospitalization databases, or
physician-assigned diagnoses
in ambulatory-visit databases, or
prescription for smoking cessation
in pharmacy database (3).
ICD-9: 305.1, V15.82, 649.0,
989.84
Alcoholism
Primary discharge diagnosis in
hospitalization databases, or
physician-assigned diagnoses
in ambulatory-visit databases of
alcohol abuse, complications from
alcohol use, or alcoholism (4).
ICD-9: 291.x, 303.x, 305.0,
305.0x, 790.3, 980.0, 980.8,
980.9, E860.0, E860.1,
E860.8, E860.9, 357.5, 425.5,
535.3, 571.0-571.3, V11.3
References
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Go AS, Chertow GM, Fan D, McCulloch CE, Hsu CY. Chronic kidney disease and the
risks of death, cardiovascular events, and hospitalization. N Engl J Med 2004;351:1296305.
2.
Miller DR, Safford MM, Pogach LM. Who has diabetes? Best estimates of diabetes
prevalence in the Department of Veterans Affairs based on computerized patient data.
Diabetes Care 2004;27 Suppl 2:B10-21.
3.
Jonk YC, Sherman SE, Fu SS, Hamlett-Berry KW, Geraci MC, Joseph AM. National
trends in the provision of smoking cessation aids within the Veterans Health
Administration. Am J Manag Care 2005;11:77-85.
4.
Justice AC, Lasky E, McGinnis KA, et al. Medical disease and alcohol use among
veterans with human immunodeficiency infection: A comparison of disease measurement
strategies. Med Care 2006;44:S52-60.