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An automation framework for clinical codelist development validated with UK data from patients with multiple long-term conditions

Aslam A, Walker L, Abaho M, Cant H, O'Connell M, Abuzour AS, Hama L, Schofield P et al.

BMC medical research methodology, 2025

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Codelists play a crucial role in ensuring accurate and standardized communication within healthcare. However, preparation of high-quality codelists is a rigorous and time-consuming process. The literature focuses on transparency of clinical codelists and overlooks the utility of automation. METHODS (AUTOMATED FRAMEWORK DESIGN AND USE-CASE: DYNAIRX): Here we present a Codelist Generation Framework that can automate generation of codelists with minimal input from clinical experts. We demonstrate the process using a specific project, DynAIRx, producing appropriate codelists and a framework allowing future projects to take advantage of automated codelist generation. Both the framework and codelist are publicly available. DynAIRx is an NIHR-funded project aiming to develop AIs to help optimise prescribing of medicines in patients with multiple long-term conditions. DynAIRx requires complex codelists to describe the trajectory of each patient, and the interaction between their conditions. We promptly generated ≈ 214 codelists for DynAIRx using the proposed framework and validated them with a panel of experts, significantly reducing the amount of time required by making effective use of automation.

RESULTS: The framework reduced the clinician time required to validate codes, automatically shrunk codelists using trusted sources and added new codes for review against existing codelists. In the DynAIRx case study, a codelist of ≈ 14000 codes required only 7-9 hours of…

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