The sex of the patient (FEMALE) is provided by the data source. All non-male, non-female (e.g., "other") values are set to missing (.).

If FEMALE is inconsistent with diagnoses (EDX03) or procedures (EPR03), FEMALE is set to inconsistent (.C).

In HCUP databases before 1998, this data element is called SEX.

Central Distributor only - because of confidentiality restrictions, gender (FEMALE) is suppressed on some records.

According to the documentation available from the source, "Other/Unknown" includes patients undergoing sex changes, undetermined sex, live births with congenital abnormalities, and patients whose sex was unavailable from any source document. The source value for "Other/Unknown" was recoded to missing (.), during HCUP processing of 1988-1992 discharges.

From 1993 - 2002, "Other/Unknown" was recoded to invalid (.A) during HCUP processing. From 2003 - 2007 "Other/Unknown" was recoded to missing (.). Beginning in 2008, "Other/Unknown" was once again recoded to invalid (.A)

The source value "E" for "Encrypted patient gender (confidential data)" is recoded to missing (FEMALE = .).

Utah encrypts the patient gender for the following two conditions:

1. Patients with the Major Diagnosis Code of "Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection" (value 25) and
2. Diagnosis Related Groups "Alcohol/Drug Abuse or Dependence" (values 433-437).