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Release Notes:
Data Element
Version 2010B

Data Element Name: Pre-Arrival LDL-Cholesterol Value
Collected For: AMI-T1a, AMI-T2, , (CMS Optional Test Measures)
Definition:LDL-c cholesterol (LDL-c) value from test done in the past year.

Suggested Data Collection Question:What is the patient’s LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c), in mg/dL or mg/100 ml, from the LDL-c test performed within one year prior to hospital arrival?
Format:
Length:3 or UTD
Type:Numeric
Occurs:1
Allowable Values:

  • Enter the patient’s LDL-c value, in mg/dL or mg/100 ml, from the LDL-c test performed within one year prior to hospital arrival.
  • UTD = Unable to Determine
Notes for Abstraction:
  • When more than one LDL-c value from the past year is documented, enter the LDL-c from the test performed closest to the time of hospital arrival. If unable to determine which value was drawn closest to hospital arrival time, enter the highest value.
  • Direct and calculated (indirect) LDL-c values are acceptable. If both direct and calculated LDL-c values are documented for the same specimen date/time, enter the direct LDL-c value.
  • If the indirect LDL-c is reported as not calculated because high triglycerides render the LDL-c calculation inaccurate, consider the calculated LDL-c value equal to 0 (zero).
  • If an LDL-c value on the pre-arrival laboratory report conflicts with that from another source of documentation for the same specimen, enter the value from the laboratory report.
  • If a pre-arrival laboratory report documents discrepant LDL-c values for the same specimen, enter the highest value.
  • If sources other than a laboratory report document discrepant LDL-c values for the same specimen, enter the highest value.
  • Disregard LDL-c values reported in units of mmol/L or any other unit of measurement other than mg/dL or mg/100 ml. If the unit of measurement is not documented, assume the unit of measurement is mg/dL.
  • If an LDL-c value from the LDL-c test performed within one year prior to hospital arrival is not documented or if unable to determine from medical record documentation (e.g., LDL-c testing was done within the past year but no values are available), enter UTD.
  • The medical record must be abstracted as documented (taken at “face value”). When the value documented is obviously in error (not a valid number or greater than 999) and no other documentation is found that provides this information, the abstractor should select “UTD.”
    Example:
    Documentation indicates the Pre-Arrival LDL-Cholesterol Value was 1000 mg/dL. No other documention in the medical provides a valid value. Since the Pre-Arrival LDL-Cholesterol Value is outside of the range listed in the Format Length (greater than 999), it is not a valid value and the abstractor should select “UTD.”
    Note:
    Transmission of a case with an invalid value will be rejected from the QIO Clinical Warehouse. Use of “UTD” for Pre-Arrival LDL-Cholesterol Value allows the case to be accepted into the warehouse.
Suggested Data Sources:
  • Consultation notes
  • Emergency department record
  • History and physical
  • Progress notes
  • Discharge summary
  • Pre-arrival laboratory reports
Additional Notes:
Guidelines for Abstraction:
Inclusion Exclusion
LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c)
  • Low den lipoprotein
  • Low density lipoprotein (LDL)
  • Value described as “bad cholesterol”

LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c)
LDL (very low density lipoprotein)

Pre-Arrival LDL-Cholesterol Value
Specifications Manual for Joint Commission National Quality Core Measures (2010B)
Discharges 10-01-10 (4Q10) through 03-31-11 (1Q11)