Key result
Recoding pneumonia to sepsis or respiratory failure is linked to ~1% lower 30-day mortality.
Observational (n=2,906)
Yes
Effect estimate: Mean improvement 1.09% (95% CI 0.94-1.28)
Hospitals can artificially improve their apparent pneumonia mortality and readmission rates by legitimately recoding eligible pneumonia patients to sepsis or respiratory failure.
Hospitals may improve reported pneumonia mortality via recoding; leaves open whether current metrics validly reflect care quality.
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Sjoding et al. (2015) conducted an observational in Pneumonia (n=2,906). Recoding patients to sepsis or respiratory failure was evaluated on Improvement in pneumonia mortality rate (Mean improvement 1.09%, 95% CI 0.94-1.28). Recoding eligible pneumonia patients to sepsis or respiratory failure allowed 90 of 100 hospitals to improve their 30-day mortality rate (mean improvement 1.09%; 95% CI 0.94-1.28%).
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