Systems, methods and computer program products for using event specificity to identify patients having a specified disease

• US 5,956,689 A
• Filed: 07/31/1997
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Accordant Health Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Accordant Health Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Everhart, Kenneth A. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel Todd
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hayes, John W.
• Application Number:
  US08/904,970
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2, 705/3, 705/1, 600/300, 600/301, 600/483
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/20 relating to practices or guidelines

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer program products are provided for identifying members of a population having a specified disease state. First and second sets of medical events associated with a disease state are identified. Each member of first and second population subsets have at least one medical event from the first and second sets of medical events, respectively. A third population subset is created comprising members of the first population subset who are not members of the second population subset. A specificity rating, indicating how often a respective medical event occurred within the second population subset relative to the third population subset, is assigned to each medical event associated with members of the second population subset. A third set of medical events associated with members of the second population subset is identified, each of the identified medical events having a specificity rating above the selected threshold. A fourth population subset is created from the third population subset, each member of the fourth population subset having associated therewith at least one medical event from the third set of medical events. The second and fourth population subsets are combined, thereby identifying members of the population having a specified disease state.

Claims

1. A method of identifying members of a population having a rare chronic disease, wherein each member of said population has at least one medical event associated therewith, said method comprising the following steps which are performed on a data processing system:

(a) identifying a first set of medical events associated with said rare chronic disease;

(b) creating a first population subset from said population, each member of said first subset having associated therewith at least one medical event from said identified first set of medical events;

(c) identifying a second set of medical events associated with said rare chronic disease;

(d) creating a second population subset from said first population subset, each member of said second population subset having associated therewith at least one medical event from said identified second set of medical events;

(e) creating a third population subset, said third population subset comprising members of said first population subset who are not members of said second population subset;

(f) determining a frequency of occurrence for each medical event associated with members of said second population subset;

(g) determining a frequency of occurrence for each medical event associated with members of said third population subset;

(h) assigning a specificity rating to each medical event associated with members of said second population subset, each specificity rating identifying how often a respective medical event occurred within said second population subset relative to said third population subset;

(i) identifying a third set of medical events associated with members of said second population subset, each of said identified medical events having a specificity rating above a selected threshold;

(j) creating a fourth population subset from said third population subset, each member of said fourth population subset having associated therewith at least one medical event from said third set of medical events; and

(k) combining said second and fourth population subsets, thereby identifying members of said population having a rare chronic disease.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein each one of said medical events comprises a medical symptom, medical diagnosis, medical treatment, or combination thereof, of a respective population member.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step (j) further comprises selectively removing from said fourth population members having medical events and conditions associated therewith that are preemptive of said rare chronic disease.

4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising adjusting said selected specificity rating threshold in step (i) and performing said steps (i) through (k) to identify members of said population having a rare chronic disease.

5. A data processing system for identifying members of a population having a rare chronic disease, wherein each member of said population has at least one medical event associated therewith, said data processing system comprising:

(a) means for identifying a first set of medical events associated with said rare chronic disease;

(b) means for creating a first population subset from said population, each member of said first subset having associated therewith at least one medical event from said identified first set of medical events;

(c) means for identifying a second set of medical events associated with said rare chronic disease;

(d) means for creating a second population subset from said first population subset, each member of said second population subset having associated therewith at least one medical event from said identified second set of medical events;

(e) means for creating a third population subset, said third population subset comprising members of said first population subset who are not members of said second population subset;

(f) means for determining a frequency of occurrence for each medical event associated with members of said second population subset;

(g) means for determining a frequency of occurrence for each medical event associated with members of said third population subset;

(h) means for assigning a specificity rating to each medical event associated with members of said second population subset, each specificity rating identifying how often a respective medical event occurred within said second population subset relative to said third population subset;

(i) means for identifying a third set of medical events associated with members of said second population subset, each of said identified medical events having a specificity rating above a selected threshold;

(j) means for creating a fourth population subset from said third population subset, each member of said fourth population subset having associated therewith at least one medical event from said third set of medical events; and

(k) means for combining said second and fourth population subsets, thereby identifying members of said population having a rare chronic disease.

6. A data processing system according to claim 5 wherein each one of said medical events comprises a medical symptom, medical diagnosis, medical treatment, or combination thereof, of a respective population member.

7. A data processing system according to claim 5 wherein said means for creating a fourth population subset from said third population subset comprises means for selectively removing from said fourth population members having medical events and conditions associated therewith that are preemptive of said rare chronic disease.

8. A data processing system according to claim 5 wherein said means for identifying a third set of medical events associated with members of said second population subset comprises means for adjusting said selected specificity rating threshold.

9. A computer program product for use with a data processing system for identifying members of a population having a rare chronic disease, wherein each member of said population has at least one medical event associated therewith, said computer program product comprising:

(a) a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for identifying a first set of medical events associated with said rare chronic disease;

(b) the computer usable medium having computer program code means embodied in said medium for creating a first population subset from said population, each member of said first subset having associated therewith at least one medical event from said identified first set of medical events;

(c) the computer usable medium having computer program code means embodied in said medium for identifying a second set of medical events associated with said rare chronic disease;

(d) the computer usable medium having computer program code means embodied in said medium for creating a second population subset from said first population subset, each member of said second population subset having associated therewith at least one medical event from said identified second set of medical events;

(e) the computer usable medium having computer program code means embodied in said medium for creating a third population subset, said third population subset comprising members of said first population subset who are not members of said second population subset;

(f) the computer usable medium having computer program code means embodied in said medium for determining a frequency of occurrence for each medical event associated with members of said second population subset;

(g) the computer usable medium having computer program code means embodied in said medium for determining a frequency of occurrence for each medical event associated with members of said third population subset;

(h) the computer usable medium having computer program code means embodied in said medium for assigning a specificity rating to each medical event associated with members of said second population subset, each specificity rating identifying how often a respective medical event occurred within said second population subset relative to said third population subset;

(i) the computer usable medium having computer program code means embodied in said medium for identifying a third set of medical events associated with members of said second population subset, each of said identified medical events having a specificity rating above a selected threshold;

(j) the computer usable medium having computer program code means embodied in said medium for creating a fourth population subset from said third population subset, each member of said fourth population subset having associated therewith at least one medical event from said third set of medical events; and

(k) the computer usable medium having computer program code means embodied in said medium for combining said second and fourth population subsets, thereby identifying members of said population having a rare chronic disease.

10. A computer program product according to claim 9 wherein each one of said medical events comprises a medical symptom, medical diagnosis, medical treatment, or combination thereof, of a respective population member.

11. A computer program product according to claim 9 wherein said computer readable program code means for creating a fourth population subset from said third population subset comprises computer readable program code means, embodied in said media, for selectively removing from said fourth population members having medical events and conditions associated therewith that are preemptive of said rare chronic disease.

12. A computer program product according to claim 9 wherein said computer readable program code means for identifying a third set of medical events associated with members of said second population subset comprises computer readable program code means, embodied in said media, for adjusting said selected specificity rating threshold.

13. A method of identifying members of a population having a rare chronic disease, wherein each member of said population has at least one medical event associated therewith, said method comprising the following steps which are performed on a data processing system:

(a) identifying a first set of medical events associated with said rare chronic disease;

(b) creating a first population subset from said population, each member of said first subset having associated therewith at least one medical event from said identified first set of medical events;

(c) creating a second population subset, said second population subset comprising members of said population who are not members of said first population subset;

(d) determining a frequency of occurrence for each medical event associated with members of said first population subset;

(e) determining a frequency of occurrence for each medical event associated with members of said second population subset;

(f) assigning a specificity rating to each medical event associated with members of said first population subset, each specificity rating identifying how often a respective medical event occurred within said first population subset relative to said second population subset;

(g) identifying a second set of medical events associated with members of said first population subset, each of said identified medical events having a specificity rating above a selected threshold;

(h) creating a third population subset from said second population subset, each member of said third population subset having associated therewith at least one medical event from said second set of medical events; and

(i) combining said first and third population subsets, thereby identifying members of said population having a rare chronic disease.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein each one of said medical events comprises a medical symptom, medical diagnosis, medical treatment, or combination thereof, of a respective population member.

15. A method according to claim 13 wherein said step (h) further comprises selectively removing from said third population members having medical events and conditions associated therewith that are preemptive of said rare chronic disease.

16. A method according to claim 13 further comprising adjusting said selected specificity rating threshold in step (g) and performing said steps (g) through (i) to identify members of said population having a rare chronic disease.

17. A data processing system for identifying members of a population having a rare chronic disease, wherein each member of said population has at least one medical event associated therewith, said data processing system comprising:

(a) means for identifying a first set of medical events associated with said rare chronic disease;

(b) means for creating a first population subset from said population, each member of said first subset having associated therewith at least one medical event from said identified first set of medical events;

(c) means for creating a second population subset, said second population subset comprising members of said population who are not members of said first population subset;

(d) means for determining a frequency of occurrence for each medical event associated with members of said first population subset;

(e) means for determining a frequency of occurrence for each medical event associated with members of said second population subset;

(f) means for assigning a specificity rating to each medical event associated with members of said first population subset, each specificity rating identifying how often a respective medical event occurred within said first population subset relative to said second population subset;

(g) means for identifying a second set of medical events associated with members of said first population subset, each of said identified medical events having a specificity rating above a selected threshold;

(h) means for creating a third population subset from said second population subset, each member of said third population subset having associated therewith at least one medical event from said second set of medical events; and

(i) means for combining said first and third population subsets, thereby identifying members of said population having a rare chronic disease.

18. A data processing system according to claim 17 wherein each one of said medical events comprises a medical symptom, medical diagnosis, medical treatment, or combination thereof, of a respective population member.

19. A data processing system according to claim 17 wherein said means for creating a third population subset from said second population subset comprises means for selectively removing from said third population members having medical events and conditions associated therewith that are preemptive of said rare chronic disease.

20. A data processing system according to claim 17 wherein said means for identifying a second set of medical events associated with members of said first population subset comprises means for adjusting said selected specificity rating threshold.

21. A computer program product for use with a data processing system for identifying members of a population having a rare chronic disease, wherein each member of said population has at least one medical event associated therewith, said computer program product comprising:

(a) a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for identifying a first set of medical events associated with said rare chronic disease;

(b) the computer usable medium having computer program code means embodied in said medium for creating a first population subset from said population, each member of said first subset having associated therewith at least one medical event from said identified first set of medical events;

(c) the computer usable medium having computer program code means embodied in said medium for creating a second population subset, said second population subset comprising members of said population who are not members of said first population subset;

(d) the computer usable medium having computer program code means embodied in said medium for means for determining a frequency of occurrence for each medical event associated with members of said first population subset;

(e) the computer usable medium having computer program code means embodied in said medium for means for determining a frequency of occurrence for each medical event associated with members of said second population subset;

(f) the computer usable medium having computer program code means embodied in said medium for assigning a specificity rating to each medical event associated with members of said first population subset, each specificity rating identifying how often a respective medical event occurred within said first population subset relative to said second population subset;

(g) the computer usable medium having computer program code means embodied in said medium for identifying a second set of medical events associated with members of said first population subset, each of said identified medical events having a specificity rating above a selected threshold;

(h) the computer usable medium having computer program code means embodied in said medium for creating a third population subset from said second population subset, each member of said third population subset having associated therewith at least one medical event from said second set of medical events; and

(i) the computer usable medium having computer program code means embodied in said medium for combining said first and third population subsets, thereby identifying members of said population having a rare chronic disease.

22. A computer program product according to claim 21 wherein each one of said medical events comprises a medical symptom, medical diagnosis, medical treatment, or combination thereof, of a respective population member.

23. A computer program product according to claim 21 wherein said computer readable program code means for creating a third population subset from said second population subset comprises computer readable program code means, embodied in said media, for selectively removing from said third population members having medical events and conditions associated therewith that are preemptive of said rare chronic disease.

24. A computer program product according to claim 21 wherein said computer readable program code means for identifying a second set of medical events associated with members of said first population subset comprises computer readable program code means, embodied in said media, for adjusting said selected specificity rating threshold.

25. A method of identifying members of a population having a rare chronic disease, wherein each member of said population has at least one medical event associated therewith, said method comprising the steps of:

creating a first population subset from said population, each member of the second population subset having associated therewith at least one medical event from a first set of medical events;

creating a second population subset from said population, each member of the second population subset having associated therewith at least one medical event from a second set of medical events;

assigning a specificity rating to each medical event associated with members of said first and second population subsets, wherein each specificity rating identifies how often a respective medical event occurred within one of the first and second population subsets relative to the other one of the first and second population subsets; and

processing said specificity ratings in order to identify members of said population having a rare chronic disease.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein each one of said medical events comprises a medical symptom, medical diagnosis, medical treatment, or combination thereof, of a respective population member.

27. A data processing system for identifying members of a population having a rare chronic disease, wherein each member of said population has at least one medical event associated therewith, said data processing system comprising:

a database including patient and medical events;

means for creating within said database a first population subset from said population, each member of the first population subset having associated therewith at least one medical event from a first set of medical events;

means for creating within said database a second population subset from said population, each member of the second population subset having associated therewith at least one medical event from a second set of medical events;

means for assigning a specificity rating to each medical event within said database associated with members of said first and second population subsets, wherein each specificity rating identifies how often a respective medical event occurred within one of the first and second population subsets relative to the other one of the first and second population subsets; and

means for processing said specificity ratings in order to identify members of said population having a rare chronic disease.

28. A data processing system according to claim 27 wherein each one of said medical events comprises a medical symptom, medical diagnosis, medical treatment, or combination thereof, of a respective population member.