Development of an indicator of smoking status for people with multiple sclerosis in administrative data

Ruth Ann Marrie; Qier Tan; Okechukwu Ekuma; James J Marriott

doi:10.1177/20552173221074296

Development of an indicator of smoking status for people with multiple sclerosis in administrative data

Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. 2022 Jan 21;8(1):20552173221074296. doi: 10.1177/20552173221074296. eCollection 2022 Jan-Mar.

Authors

Ruth Ann Marrie¹, Qier Tan, Okechukwu Ekuma², James J Marriott¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
² Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.

Abstract

Background: Administrative data lack health behavior information.

Methods: We developed an administrative case definition for past or current ('ever smoking') in 1320 individuals with MS from Manitoba, Canada. Candidate indicators for 'ever smoked' included smoking cessation medications, and diagnosis codes for tobacco use and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, using variable lookback periods.

Results: When compared to self-reported smoking status, the case definition incorporating all indicators over a lifetime lookback period had a sensitivity of 31.98%, and positive predictive value of 78.26%.

Conclusion: This smoking status definition could only partially control for confounding due to smoking because of the low sensitivity.

Keywords: Administrative data; multiple sclerosis; smoking.