Validity of Self-Reports of Reasons for Hospitalization by Young Adults and Risk Factors for Discordance with Medical Records The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

This research focused on the validity of young adults ’ (mean age 33 years; standard deviation, 3.9) self-reports of reasons for hospitalization and factors affecting validity in a longitudinal cohort study of over 5,000 young adults in four US cities (1985–1998). Self-reported reasons were considered discordant if they differed from those in medical records. Of the 321 self-reported hospitalizations, overall concordance was 92.5%; concordance ranged from 80 % for infections to 100 % for injuries/fractures and procedures/surgeries. There were no significant differ-ences among mail, telephone, or face-to-face methods of collecting self-reports. In generalized estimating equa-tions analyses, Black race (odds ratio 4.23, 95 % confidence interval: 1.72, 10.40; p 0.002) and intravenous drug use (odds ratio 6.06, 95 % confidence interval: 1.17, 31.22; p 0.03) were positively associated with discordance. Nonetheless, self-reports by Blacks were 90.0 % concordant. Self-reports by Whites were 95.7% concordant. These results suggest that young adults ’ self-reported reasons for hospitalization are overwhelmingly concordant with medical records. This has important implications, since obtaining medical records has become more costly and logistically difficult. cohort studies; data collection; hospitalization; longitudinal studies; medical records; reproducibility of result