Development of Advanced TB Case Classification Model Using NHI Claims Data

The aim of this study was to enhance the NHI claims data-based tuberculosis classification rule of KCDC(Korea centers for disease control & prevention) for an effective TB surveillance system. 8,118 cases, 10% samples of 81,199 TB cases from NHI claims data during 2009, were subject to the Medical Record Survey about whether they are real TB patients. The final study population was 7,132 cases whose medical records were surveyed. The decision tree model was evaluated as the most superior TB patients detection model. This model required the main independent variables of age, the number of anti-tuberculosis drugs, types of medical institution, tuberculosis tests, prescription days, types of TB. This model had sensitivity of 90.6%, PPV of 96.1%, and correct classification rate of 93.8%, which was better than KCDC's TB detection model with two or more NHI claims for TB and TB drugs(sensitivity of 82.6%, PPV of 95%, and correct classification rate of 80%).