Algorithm Enhances Identification of Tobacco Use Among Veterans

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1047279725002558?via%3Dihub A new algorithm, developed through an AHRQ-funded study, identifies tobacco use among veterans using electronic health record (EHR) data. Tobacco use remains a leading cause of death in the United States, yet it can be hard to track in EHRs because information is scattered across multiple data sources. Researchers created a rules-based algorithm using data from the Veterans Affairs Corporate Data Warehouse, including health factors, diagnosis codes, medication orders, billing, and encounter information. They then validated the algorithm’s accuracy against 429 manually reviewed EHR charts and a national self-report survey. The algorithm, which will be available for Veterans Health Administration researchers, could improve identification of veterans with a history of tobacco use, helping target prevention, screening, and future research on tobacco-related health risks. Read the full article in Annals of Epidemiology.