Accuracy of reporting cardiac related events during long term follow up

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Abstract
Questionnaires on hospital admissions (date, hospital, reason for admission) were sent to patients participating in two prospective randomised clinical trials of CABG and to their GPs. Baseline characteristics of the two study populations (BHACAS (beating heart against cardioplegic arrest studies) 1 and 2) have been previously reported.4 Non-responders received up to three repeat questionnaires, followed by a telephone call. Documentation of admission by hospital information systems was regarded as the “gold standard”. Reasons for admission cited by patients and their GPs and documented in hospital information systems were classified as cardiac related or not by a cardiac surgeon and a cardiologist based at the study site. Estimates of sensitivity and specificity were calculated, including patients who could not be contacted or whose GP did not respond.5 These patients were classified as if either the patient or the GP had reported an admission. All deaths were included as cardiac related. Results are reported in percentages and 95% confidence intervals.