Validity of self-reported prevalent cases of stroke and acute myocardial infarction in the Spanish cohort of the EPIC study

J Epidemiol Community Health. 2013 Jan;67(1):71-5. doi: 10.1136/jech-2011-200104. Epub 2012 May 10.

Abstract

Background: Information on the validity of self-reported cases of stroke and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is varied. The aim of this study was to assess the validity and agreement of self-reported prevalent cases of stroke and AMI in the Spanish cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).

Methods: At recruitment, 1992-1996, and in the follow-up (3 years after recruitment), each participant in the Spanish EPIC cohort (15,630 men and 25,808 women) was asked if a doctor had ever said that they had had a stroke or AMI, and the results were compared with information available in medical records. Validity of self-reported prevalent cases of stroke and AMI was examined by calculating sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values and κ statistics.

Results: The sensitivity of self-reported prevalent cases of stroke was 81.3% and that for AMI was 97.7%. The positive predictive value was 22.2% and 60.7% for stroke and AMI, respectively, whereas specificity was very high (>99%) for both diseases. The agreement between self-report questionnaire results and medical records was substantial (κ=0.75) for AMI but not for stroke (κ=0.35).

Conclusion: Self-reported information on stroke and AMI included in the EPIC questionnaire is a valid instrument for the assessment of AMI disease but should be used with caution in stroke.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medical Records / statistics & numerical data*
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / epidemiology*
  • Prevalence
  • Prospective Studies
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Risk Factors
  • Self Disclosure*
  • Self Report
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Sex Distribution
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Stroke / epidemiology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires