Evaluating comorbidity data sources for cancer surveillance

Evaluating comorbidity data sources for cancer surveillance

Comorbidity, defined as the presence of multiple, concurrent health conditions, has been shown to be associated with the treatment and prognosis of cancer patients. This ongoing study is evaluating the scientific and practical implications of different sources of information on comorbid conditions among patients diagnosed with cancer. The first objective is to assess the completeness of routinely collected comorbidity data from administrative databases and, in a subset of 600 subjects, compare these data with the patient's medical record. The second objective is to examine what conditions are found by both sources and whether these conditions are included in commonly used comorbidity indices. If the information from administrative databases is found to be fairly complete and reliable, extending its collection throughout the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program should be considered.

NCCC Principal Investigator: Cynthia O'Malley, Ph.D.

Collaborator: William Satariano, Ph.D. (UC Berkeley)

Funding Source: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program