The methods and search strategy for Mini-Sentinel systematic reviews are described in the accompanying manuscript by Carnahan.12 Briefly, PubMed and Iowa Drug Information Service (IDIS) searches of the English language literature were performed to identify studies published between 1990 and 2010 that evaluated the validity of algorithms for identifying CVAs and/or TIAs in administrative data. Search terms related to administrative data are described in detail by Carnahan12 and were included in all Mini-Sentinel systematic review searches. In addition, the following key words were used as PubMed search terms for the CVA/TIA review: (“Brain Ischemia”[Mesh] OR “Basal Ganglia Cerebrovascular Disease”[Mesh]) OR “Carotid Artery Thrombosis”[Mesh]) OR “Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis”[Mesh]) OR “Intracranial Hemorrhages”[Mesh]) OR “Stroke”[Mesh]) OR “Vasospasm, Intracranial”[Mesh]. The IDIS search included specification of the following terms: 435. or 432. or 433.1 or 434. or 436. (NOTE: 435. ISCHEMIA, CEREBRAL, TRANSIENT, 432. HEMORRHAGE, INTRACRANIAL NEC, 433.1 EMBOLISM/THROMBOSIS, CAROTID, 434. EMBOLISM/THROMBOSIS, CEREB, 436. DISEASE, CEREBROVASCULAR NEC) for the disease and “ischemi*” or “intracranial” or “stroke” in the abstract.
Two study investigators independently reviewed the abstracts to identify potentially relevant articles for retrieval; articles identified as potentially relevant by either investigator were retrieved. The study investigators independently reviewed the articles with a goal of identifying validation of CVAs or TIAs described in the article itself or from the reference section of the article if it included validation studies. Citations from the article’s references were selected for full-text review if they were cited as a source for the algorithm to identify CVAs or TIAs, or were otherwise deemed likely to be relevant. Discrepancies regarding the inclusion of a study for the review report were resolved by consensus following the independent reviews.
Mini-Sentinel investigators were surveyed to request information on any published or unpublished studies that validated an algorithm to identify CVAs or TIAs in administrative data. These studies were similarly reviewed by two study investigators to determine their relevance.
A single investigator abstracted information on the study design and population, algorithm, and validation statistics for each study. The data were confirmed by a second investigator for accuracy. Based upon the specific outcomes reported, we categorized studies by the following CVA/stroke subtypes: acute events including 1) strokes, 2) TIAs, and 3) intracranial bleeds (intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage), and 4) the composite endpoints of stroke/TIA or cerebrovascular disease (including prevalent disease).
Two study investigators independently reviewed the abstracts to identify potentially relevant articles for retrieval; articles identified as potentially relevant by either investigator were retrieved. The study investigators independently reviewed the articles with a goal of identifying validation of CVAs or TIAs described in the article itself or from the reference section of the article if it included validation studies. Citations from the article’s references were selected for full-text review if they were cited as a source for the algorithm to identify CVAs or TIAs, or were otherwise deemed likely to be relevant. Discrepancies regarding the inclusion of a study for the review report were resolved by consensus following the independent reviews.
Mini-Sentinel investigators were surveyed to request information on any published or unpublished studies that validated an algorithm to identify CVAs or TIAs in administrative data. These studies were similarly reviewed by two study investigators to determine their relevance.
A single investigator abstracted information on the study design and population, algorithm, and validation statistics for each study. The data were confirmed by a second investigator for accuracy. Based upon the specific outcomes reported, we categorized studies by the following CVA/stroke subtypes: acute events including 1) strokes, 2) TIAs, and 3) intracranial bleeds (intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage), and 4) the composite endpoints of stroke/TIA or cerebrovascular disease (including prevalent disease).
