Performing a trend analysis of patient results based on the percentage of samples above or below certain values involves tracking how the distribution of results changes over time. This can help you identify shifts in patient health or treatment effectiveness. Let’s walk through the process with an example related to cholesterol levels.
Step 1: Gather Data
Collect patient cholesterol level results over a specific period. Make sure you have enough data points to observe meaningful trends.
Step 2: Define Thresholds
Determine the thresholds that will categorize cholesterol levels as “below” or “above” certain values. For instance, you might use 200 mg/dL as the threshold for high cholesterol.
Step 3: Calculate Percentages
For each time period (e.g., month or quarter), calculate the percentage of patient samples that fall below the defined threshold and the percentage that falls above it.
Step 4: Plot the Data
Create a line graph or bar chart to visualize the changing percentages over time. This will help you observe trends in the distribution of patient results.
Example: Cholesterol Levels
Let’s say you’re analyzing the cholesterol levels of patients over the course of a year. You’re interested in tracking the percentage of patient samples with cholesterol levels below 200 mg/dL (considered healthy) and above 200 mg/dL (considered high). You have monthly data for this analysis
- Gather Data: Collect patient cholesterol level results for each month over a year
- Define Thresholds: Set the threshold for high cholesterol at 200 mg/dL.
- Calculate Percentages: For each month, calculate the percentage of patient samples below 200 mg/dL and above 200 mg/dL.
- Plot the Data: Create a line graph with two lines: one representing the percentage of samples below 200 mg/dL and another representing the percentage above 200 mg/dL.
Here’s a simplified example of how the data might look
| Month | Samples Below 200 mg/dL (%) | Samples Above 200 mg/dL (%) |
| Jan | 70 | 30 |
| FEB | 75 | 25 |
| Mar | 72 | 28 |
| ….. | …. | |
| Dec | 68 | 32 |
Your graph will visually show how the distribution of cholesterol levels has changed over the year. If the percentage of samples above 200 mg/dL consistently increases, it could indicate a concerning trend that requires further investigation or intervention
Remember that this analysis provides an overview of how the distribution of patient results changes over time. It’s essential to interpret the trends in the context of medical knowledge and consider factors such as changes in treatment, patient demographics, and other variables that could influence the results.
About the author
Dr. Sambhu Chakraborty is a distinguished consultant in quality accreditation for laboratories and hospitals. With a leadership portfolio that includes directorial roles in two laboratory organizations and a consulting firm, as well as chairmanship in a prominent laboratory organization, Dr. Chakraborty is a respected voice in the field. For further engagement or inquiries, Dr. Chakraborty can be contacted through email at director@iaqmconsultants.com and info@sambhuchakraborty.com. Additional resourcesand contact information are available on his websites, https://www.quality-pathshala.com and https://www.sambhuchakraborty.com, or via WhatsApp at +919830051583