Elixhauserindeks

The Elixhauser Comorbidity Index is a set of comorbidity measures used in healthcare, particularly in the United States, to assess the burden of existing conditions in patients that are distinct from the primary condition being treated. Developed by Elixhauser, Daly, and colleagues, it is derived from administrative data, typically patient discharge abstracts. The index identifies 30 specific comorbidities that are documented in patient records and assigns a score based on their presence.

The purpose of the Elixhauser Index is to adjust for the severity of illness in patients when analyzing healthcare outcomes, such as mortality, length of stay, and readmission rates. By accounting for these additional health problems, researchers and healthcare providers can gain a more accurate understanding of the patient's overall health status and how it might influence their prognosis or response to treatment. It is widely used in research studies, quality improvement initiatives, and for risk adjustment in healthcare payment systems.

The 30 comorbidities included in the index range from conditions like diabetes and heart failure to metastatic cancer and AIDS. The presence of each comorbidity is typically identified by specific diagnostic codes (e.g., ICD-9-CM or ICD-10-CM codes). A higher Elixhauser score indicates a greater number and severity of comorbidities, suggesting a more complex patient profile. While valuable for its ability to stratify patient populations based on underlying health conditions, it is important to note that the index is based on coded data and may not capture all existing comorbidities.