Methods for analysis and quality control of medical information on diagnosed cerebrovascular diseases in the Russian cohort of Chernobyl emergency workers (liquidators)

The article presents methods for analysis and quality control of medical information on diagnosed cerebrovascular diseases and deaths from the diseases in the Russian cohort of Chernobyl emergency workers (liquidators) stored at the National Radiation and Epidemiological Registry. The methods are based on results of checking a total of 3661 medical documents: electronic medical records in the Registry and relevant paper-based medical documents - outpatient or inpatient case histories, medical death certificates, autopsy reports - arrived from local healthcare settings for the period between 1996 and 2013. Accuracy of diagnosis coding with ICD-10, correctness of converting paper-based records into computerized files and authenticity of electronic and paper-based records were verified. According to results of error analysis inaccuracy in coding underlying cause of death was the most frequently occurred error. After verification electronic forms of source medical information on cerebrovascular diseases in Russian Chernobyl liquidators were corrected in line with ICD-10 (10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) and regulatory documents of the Russian Ministry of Health.