Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #121320

Susan Y. Chao, MS, Lucinda Z. Frost, PsyD, John B. Stea, MD, MPH, and James Leonard, MPH. Population Health Support Division, Air Force Medical Support Agency, AFMSA/SGOZ, 2509 Kennedy Circle, Brooks City-Base, TX 78235, 210-536-5783, susan.chao@brooks.af.mil

Methods for grouping injury and behavioral health (BH) related ICD-9 CM codes were developed to analyze medical encounter data of active duty Air Force (ADAF) personnel for surveillance and epidemiological research. Injuries are grouped into major types; additional classifications include anatomical areas, physiological events, agent type, sports/occupational injury. Behavioral health ICD-9 diagnoses are classified into groupings. These classification schemas and methods of analysis were pilot-tested using data from ADAF personnel and their medical encounter data in 2001. Overall and specific injury visit rates for ADAF members with at least one BH related visit were compared to those without BH visits. Comparisons were also made between those with and without specific types of BH visits (e.g., depression). Outpatient injury visit rates were expressed as the number of visits per 100 person-years. 2001 pilot results included visit rates for all injuries (e.g., the rate for those with BH visits was 96.9 per 100 person-years and for those without, 61.4 per 100; the ratio of these two rates was 1.6 suggesting a 60% higher injury rate for ADAF with BH visits; the rate ratio for those with and without affective depression was 1.8) and visit rates for specific injury types between those with BH visits and those without (e.g., the rate ratio for fractures is 1.5; for contusion is 1.8). Analyses for 2003 are currently being conducted and will: further distinguish between those with BH visits before an injury and those with BH visits after; stratify results by demographics; and control for confounders.

Learning Objectives:

• After consideration of the poster presentation, the viewer will be able to describe associations between injury outpatient medical claims and encounter data and behavioral health medical claims and encounter data in a cohort of active duty Air Force personnel.

Keywords: Injury, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.