Database Evaluation for Muscle and Nerve Diseases - DEMAND: An academic neuromuscular coding system

Background: A database which documents the diagnosis of neuromuscular patients is useful for determining types referred to academic centers and identifying participants clinical trials other studies. The ICD-9 or ICD-10 numeric systems are insufficiently detailed this purpose. Objective: To develop a diagnoses Methods: We developed diagnostic coding system diseases called DEMAND: Database Evaluation Muscle Nerve Diseases that has been adopted by clinics at University Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA), Ohio State (OSU), Kansas Medical (KUMC), Southwestern (UTSW). At initial visit, assigned code can be revised later if appropriate. Fields include patient’s name, date birth, code. consisted 457 codes. Each prefix (MUS PNS) followed three-digit number. Depending on whether muscle nerve primarily involved, there eight broad groups: motor neuron disease codes 100-139); junction disorders 200-217); acquired hereditary myopathies 300-600s); polyneuropathies (PNS 100-400); mononeuropathies 500s); plexopathies 600s); radiculopathies 700s); mononeuritis multiplex 800s). Results: During period 10 years, 17,163 were entered (1,752 UTHSCSA, 1,840 OSU, 3,699 KUMC, 9,872 UTSW). number in several categories are: 3,080 disease; 1,575 1,851 muscular dystrophies; 633 inflammatory myopathies; 1,090 neuropathies; 1,001 immune-mediated polyneuropathies; 620 metabolic/toxic 535 mononeuropathies; 296 plexopathies; 769 radiculopathies. Conclusion: utilized multiple centers. should simple without too many fields complete, ensure compliance during busy clinic operations. This very groups retrospective, observational studies prospective treatment including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Muscular Dystrophies (MD), Myasthenia Gravis (MG), retrospective Primary (PLS), chronic demyelinating neuropathy (CIDP), etc.