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Kliim-Hansen V, Johansson KS, Gasbjerg LS, Jimenez-Solem E, Petersen TS, Nyeland ME, Winther-Jensen M, Ankarfeldt MZ, Pedersen MG, Ellegaard AM, Knop FK, Christensen MB. The impact of type 2 diabetes and glycaemic control on mortality and clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in the capital region of Denmark. Diabetes Obes Metab 2024; 26:160-168. [PMID: 37799010 DOI: 10.1111/dom.15302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
AIM To explore the impact of type 2 diabetes (T2D), glycaemic control and use of glucose-lowering medication on clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS For all patients admitted to a hospital in the Capital Region of Denmark (1 March 2020 to 1 December 2021) with confirmed COVID-19, we extracted data on mortality, admission to intensive care unit (ICU), demographics, comorbidities, medication use and laboratory tests from the electronic health record system. We compared patients with T2D to patients without diabetes using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for available confounding variables. Outcomes were 30-day mortality and admission to an ICU. For patients with T2D, we also analysed the association of baseline haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and use of specific glucose-lowering medications with the outcomes. RESULTS In total, 4430 patients were analysed, 1236 with T2D and 2194 without diabetes. The overall 30-day mortality was 19% (n = 850) and 10% (n = 421) were admitted to an ICU. Crude analyses showed that patients with T2D both had increased mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 1.37; 95% CI 1.19-1.58] and increased risk of ICU admission (HR 1.28; 95% CI 1.04-1.57). When adjusted for available confounders, this discrepancy was attenuated for both mortality (adjusted HR 1.13; 95% CI 0.95-1.33) and risk of ICU admission (adjusted HR 1.01; 95% CI 0.79-1.29). Neither baseline haemoglobin A1c nor specific glucose-lowering medication use were significantly associated with the outcomes. CONCLUSION Among those hospitalized for COVID-19, patients with T2D did not have a higher risk of death and ICU admission, when adjusting for confounders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Kliim-Hansen
- Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Copenhagen University Hospital-Herlev and Gentofte, Hellerup, Denmark
| | - Karl S Johansson
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Laerke S Gasbjerg
- Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Copenhagen University Hospital-Herlev and Gentofte, Hellerup, Denmark
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Espen Jimenez-Solem
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Copenhagen Phase IV Unit, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tonny S Petersen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin E Nyeland
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Matilde Winther-Jensen
- Department of Data, Biostatistics and Pharmacoepidemiology, Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikkel Zöllner Ankarfeldt
- Copenhagen Phase IV Unit, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Miriam G Pedersen
- Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Copenhagen University Hospital-Herlev and Gentofte, Hellerup, Denmark
| | - Anne-Marie Ellegaard
- Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Copenhagen University Hospital-Herlev and Gentofte, Hellerup, Denmark
| | - Filip K Knop
- Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Copenhagen University Hospital-Herlev and Gentofte, Hellerup, Denmark
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikkel B Christensen
- Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Copenhagen University Hospital-Herlev and Gentofte, Hellerup, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Copenhagen Centre for Translational Research, Copenhagen University Hospital-Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Hamina A, Odsbu I, Hjellvik V, Lid TG, Clausen T, Skurtveit S. Fatal drug overdoses in individuals treated pharmacologically for chronic pain: a nationwide register-based study. Br J Anaesth 2024; 132:86-95. [PMID: 37953201 DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2023.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic pain patients may be at an increased risk for drug overdoses as a result of comorbid psychiatric disorders and treatment with risk-increasing prescription medications, such as opioids. We aimed to characterise fatal drug overdoses and investigate factors associated with the deaths among individuals who had been treated pharmacologically for chronic pain. METHODS We included all individuals who received analgesics reimbursed for chronic pain in Norway during 2010-9 (n=569 047). Among this population, we identified all individuals with drug overdoses as cause of death (cases). Extracting data from national registries on diagnoses, filled prescriptions, and socioeconomic variables, we used a nested case-control design to compare the cases with age- and sex-matched controls from the study population. RESULTS Overall, 623 (0.11%) individuals in the study population died of an overdose. Most, 66.8%, had overdosed accidentally, and 61.9% as a result of pharmaceutically available opioids. Compared with the controls (n=62 245), overdoses overall were associated strongly with substance use disorders (adjusted odds ratio 7.78 [95% confidence interval 6.20-9.77]), use of combinations of opioids, benzodiazepines and related drugs and gabapentinoids (4.60 [3.62-5.85]), previous poisoning with pharmaceuticals (2.78 [2.20-3.51]), and with living alone the last year of life (2.11 [1.75-2.54]). Intentional overdoses had a stronger association with previous poisonings with pharmaceuticals whereas accidental overdoses were strongly associated with substance use disorders. CONCLUSIONS This study shows the need for better identification of overdose and suicide risk in individuals treated for chronic pain. Extra caution is needed when treating complex comorbid disorders, especially with overdose risk-increasing medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksi Hamina
- Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland; Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
| | | | | | - Torgeir G Lid
- Center for Alcohol and Drug Research at Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Thomas Clausen
- Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Svetlana Skurtveit
- Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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Hansen S, Osler M, Thysen SM, Rumessen JJ, Linneberg A, Kårhus LL. Celiac disease and risk of neuropsychiatric disorders: A nationwide cohort study. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2023. [PMID: 37045443 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Previous studies have indicated that patients with celiac disease (CD) may have an increased risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders. However, large-scale epidemiologic studies on the topic are still scarce. We aimed to examine the association between CD and development of neuropsychiatric disorders during an 18-year follow-up period. METHODS We conducted a prospective cohort study. All Danish patients with an incident diagnosis of CD (ICD-10 K90.0) from 2000 to 2018 were identified in nationwide registries and compared with birthdate- and sex-matched controls (variable 1:10 ratio) for the development of a neuropsychiatric disease. Individual neuropsychiatric diseases were also examined. The absolute risk was calculated by the cumulative incidence, and the relative risk was estimated in Cox regression models. RESULTS We identified a cohort of 6329 patients with CD diagnosed from 2000 to 2018 and 63,287 matches at risk for developing incident neuropsychiatric disorders. The cumulative incidence of development of any neuropsychiatric disorder was 3.9%, 14.9%, 24.8%, 35.9% after 1, 5, 10, and 15 years of follow-up, respectively, in patients with CD compared with 1.8%, 9.3%, 18.3%, and 27.0% in controls. Gray's test for equality p < 0.001. The relative risk was HR = 1.58 (95% confidence interval: 1.49-1.68) in CD patients compared with matches. For the individual outcomes, CD was associated with an increased relative risk of developing anxiety, depression, eating disorders, epilepsy, migraine, and stress. We also found indications of an increased relative risk of ADHD, alcoholism, bipolar disorders, and drug abuse, although the associations were less clear. No associations were found between CD and dementia, Parkinson's disease, and schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS In this nationwide study including more than 6000 patients with CD, we found an increased risk of development of a neuropsychiatric disorder compared with age- and sex-matched controls. The causes and the clinical relevance of these associations remain to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Hansen
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Merete Osler
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sanne Marie Thysen
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jüri J Rumessen
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Allan Linneberg
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Line Lund Kårhus
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Hagström H, Adams LA, Allen AM, Byrne CD, Chang Y, Grønbæk H, Ismail M, Jepsen P, Kanwal F, Kramer J, Lazarus JV, Long MT, Loomba R, Newsome PN, Rowe IA, Ryu S, Schattenberg JM, Serper M, Sheron N, Simon TG, Tapper EB, Wild S, Wai-Sun Wong V, Yilmaz Y, Zelber-Sagi S, Åberg F. Administrative Coding in Electronic Health Care Record-Based Research of NAFLD: An Expert Panel Consensus Statement. Hepatology 2021; 74:474-482. [PMID: 33486773 PMCID: PMC8515502 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Electronic health record (EHR)-based research allows the capture of large amounts of data, which is necessary in NAFLD, where the risk of clinical liver outcomes is generally low. The lack of consensus on which International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes should be used as exposures and outcomes limits comparability and generalizability of results across studies. We aimed to establish consensus among a panel of experts on ICD codes that could become the reference standard and provide guidance around common methodological issues. APPROACH AND RESULTS Researchers with an interest in EHR-based NAFLD research were invited to collectively define which administrative codes are most appropriate for documenting exposures and outcomes. We used a modified Delphi approach to reach consensus on several commonly encountered methodological challenges in the field. After two rounds of revision, a high level of agreement (>67%) was reached on all items considered. Full consensus was achieved on a comprehensive list of administrative codes to be considered for inclusion and exclusion criteria in defining exposures and outcomes in EHR-based NAFLD research. We also provide suggestions on how to approach commonly encountered methodological issues and identify areas for future research. CONCLUSIONS This expert panel consensus statement can help harmonize and improve generalizability of EHR-based NAFLD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannes Hagström
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Upper GI, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Leon A Adams
- Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth Australia
| | - Alina M. Allen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Christopher D. Byrne
- Nutrition and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK
- Southampton National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, UK
| | - Yoosoo Chang
- Center for Cohort Studies, Total Healthcare Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Henning Grønbæk
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Mona Ismail
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, King Fahad Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Peter Jepsen
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Fasiha Kanwal
- Baylor College of Medicine and Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston TX, USA
| | - Jennifer Kramer
- Baylor College of Medicine and Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston TX, USA
| | - Jeffrey V. Lazarus
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Michelle T. Long
- Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rohit Loomba
- NAFLD Research Center, Division of Gastroenterology and Epidemiology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Philip N. Newsome
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, University of Birmingham, UK
- Centre for Liver and Gastrointestinal Research, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, UK
| | - Ian A. Rowe
- Leeds Institute for Medical Research, University of Leeds, UK
| | - Seungho Ryu
- Center for Cohort Studies, Total Healthcare Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Clinical Research Design and Evaluation, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jörn M. Schattenberg
- Metabolic Liver Research Program, I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Marina Serper
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Tracey G. Simon
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elliot B. Tapper
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - Sarah Wild
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Vincent Wai-Sun Wong
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yusuf Yilmaz
- Liver Research Unit, Institute of Gastroenterology, Marmara University, Turkey
- Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Fredrik Åberg
- Transplantation and Liver Surgery Clinic, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Ebbehoj A, Jacobsen SF, Trolle C, Robaczyk MG, Rasmussen ÅK, Feldt-Rasmussen U, Thomsen RW, Poulsen PL, Stochholm K, Søndergaard E. Pheochromocytoma in Denmark during 1977-2016: validating diagnosis codes and creating a national cohort using patterns of health registrations. Clin Epidemiol 2018; 10:683-695. [PMID: 29942158 PMCID: PMC6005306 DOI: 10.2147/clep.s163065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pheochromocytoma and catecholamine-secreting paraganglioma (PPGL) are rare but potentially life-threatening tumors. We aimed to validate diagnosis codes for PPGL in the Danish National Patient Registry, the Danish National Pathology Registry, and the Danish Registry of Causes of Death and to create a national cohort of incident PPGL patients by linking these three registries. Patients and methods We obtained data from the three abovementioned registries for all individuals registered with pheochromocytoma or catecholamine hypersecretion in Denmark during 1977–2016 (average population 5.30 million). We then reviewed health records for all individuals living in the North Denmark Region and Central Denmark Region (average population 1.75 million) to validate the diagnosis of PPGL. We tested a number of algorithms for accurately identifying true cases of PPGL to maximize positive predictive values (PPVs) and completeness. The best algorithm was subsequently validated in an external sample. Results We identified 2626 individuals with a PPGL diagnosis code in Denmark, including 787 (30.0%) in the North Denmark Region and Central Denmark Region. In this subsample, we retrieved the health records of 771/787 (98.0%) individuals and confirmed 198 incident PPGL patients (25.3%). The PPV of PPGL diagnosis codes was 21.7% in the Danish National Patient Registry, 50.0% in the Danish Registry of Causes of Death, and 79.5% in the Danish National Pathology Registry. By combining patterns of registrations in the three registries, we could increase the PPV to 93.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 88.5–96.3) and completeness to 88.9% (95% CI: 83.7–92.9), thus creating a national PPGL cohort of 588 patients. PPV for the optimal algorithm was 95.3% (95% CI: 88.5–98.7) in the external validation sample. Conclusion Diagnosis codes for pheochromocytoma had low PPV in several individual health registries. However, with a combination of registries we were able to identify a near-complete national cohort of PPGL patients in Denmark, as a valuable source for epidemiological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Ebbehoj
- Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Christian Trolle
- Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | | | | | | | - Per Løgstrup Poulsen
- Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Kirstine Stochholm
- Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Esben Søndergaard
- Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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Abstract
Aim of database The aim of the Danish Anaesthesia Database (DAD) is the nationwide collection of data on all patients undergoing anesthesia. Collected data are used for quality assurance, quality development, and serve as a basis for research projects. Study population The DAD was founded in 2004 as a part of Danish Clinical Registries (Regionernes Kliniske Kvalitetsudviklings Program [RKKP]). Patients undergoing general anesthesia, regional anesthesia with or without combined general anesthesia as well as patients under sedation are registered. Data are retrieved from public and private anesthesia clinics, single-centers as well as multihospital corporations across Denmark. In 2014 a total of 278,679 unique entries representing a national coverage of ~70% were recorded, data completeness is steadily increasing. Main variable Records are aggregated for determining 13 defined quality indicators and eleven defined complications all covering the anesthetic process from the preoperative assessment through anesthesia and surgery until the end of the postoperative recovery period. Descriptive data Registered variables include patients’ individual social security number (assigned to all Danes) and both direct patient-related lifestyle factors enabling a quantification of patients’ comorbidity as well as variables that are strictly related to the type, duration, and safety of the anesthesia. Data and specific data combinations can be extracted within each department in order to monitor patient treatment. In addition, an annual DAD report is a benchmark for departments nationwide. Conclusion The DAD is covering the anesthetic process for the majority of patients undergoing anesthesia in Denmark. Data in the DAD are increasingly used for both quality and research projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian Antonsen
- Board of Directors, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark
| | - Charlotte Vallentin Rosenstock
- Department of Anesthesiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Nordsjællands Hospital-Hillerød, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark
| | - Lars Hyldborg Lundstrøm
- Department of Anesthesiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Nordsjællands Hospital-Hillerød, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark
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Ludvigsson JF, Håberg SE, Knudsen GP, Lafolie P, Zoega H, Sarkkola C, von Kraemer S, Weiderpass E, Nørgaard M. Ethical aspects of registry-based research in the Nordic countries. Clin Epidemiol 2015; 7:491-508. [PMID: 26648756 PMCID: PMC4664438 DOI: 10.2147/clep.s90589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 222] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
National health care registries in the Nordic countries share many attributes, but different legal and ethical frameworks represent a challenge to promoting effective joint research. Internationally, there is a lack of knowledge about how ethical matters are considered in Nordic registry-based research, and a lack of knowledge about how Nordic ethics committees operate and what is needed to obtain an approval. In this paper, we review ethical aspects of registry-based research, the legal framework, the role of ethics review boards in the Nordic countries, and the structure of the ethics application. We discuss the role of informed consent in registry-based research and how to safeguard the integrity of study participants, including vulnerable subjects and children. Our review also provides information on the different government agencies that contribute registry-based data, and a list of the major health registries in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Both ethical values and conditions for registry-based research are similar in the Nordic countries. While Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden have chosen different legal frameworks, these differences can be resolved through mutual recognition of ethical applications and by harmonizing the different systems, likely leading to increased collaboration and enlarged studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas F Ludvigsson
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden ; Department of Pediatrics, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden
| | | | | | - Pierre Lafolie
- Department of Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden ; The Stockholm Regional Ethical Review Board, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helga Zoega
- Center of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Catharina Sarkkola
- Genetic Epidemiology Group, Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Elisabete Weiderpass
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden ; Genetic Epidemiology Group, Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland ; Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway ; The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway ; Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mette Nørgaard
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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Nguyen-Nielsen M, Svensson E, Vogel I, Ehrenstein V, Sunde L. Existing data sources for clinical epidemiology: Danish registries for studies of medical genetic diseases. Clin Epidemiol 2013; 5:249-62. [PMID: 23966801 PMCID: PMC3745287 DOI: 10.2147/clep.s45228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Denmark has an extensive collection of national and regional medical registries. There are many advantages to registry-based research when investigating genetic diseases which, due to their rarity, can be difficult to identify. In this study, we aimed to provide an updated overview of Danish registries for medical genetic conditions and describe how data linkage across registries can be used to collect data on genetic diseases at the individual level and at the family level. We present a list of medical genetic registries in Denmark at the national level, data sources from the departments of clinical genetics and other specialized centers, and project-specific data sources. We also summarize key general registries, such as the Danish National Registry of Patients, the Danish Medical Birth Registry, and the Civil Registration System, which are renowned for their comprehensive and high quality data, and are useful supplemental data sources for genetic epidemiology research. We describe the potential for data linkage across multiple registries, which allows for access to medical histories with follow-up time spanning birth to death. Finally, we provide a brief introduction to the Danish epidemiological research setting and legalities related to data access. The Danish collection of medical registries is a valuable resource for genetic epidemiology research.
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Johannesdottir SA, Horváth-Puhó E, Ehrenstein V, Schmidt M, Pedersen L, Sørensen HT. Existing data sources for clinical epidemiology: The Danish National Database of Reimbursed Prescriptions. Clin Epidemiol 2012. [PMID: 23204870 PMCID: PMC3508607 DOI: 10.2147/clep.s37587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 279] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The Danish health care system provides partial reimbursement of most prescription medications in Denmark. The dispensation of prescription medications is registered in administrative databases. Each time a prescription is redeemed at a pharmacy, an electronic record is generated with information related to the user, prescriber, the pharmacy, and the dispensed drug. The National Health Service gathers this information for administration of the drug reimbursement plan. Recently, this information became the basis for the establishment of a new research database, the Danish National Database of Reimbursed Prescriptions (DNDRP). In this paper, we review the content, coverage, quality, linkage, access, and research possibilities of this new database. The database encompasses the reimbursement records of all reimbursed drugs sold in community pharmacies and hospital-based outpatient pharmacies in Denmark since 2004. On average, approximately 3.5 million users are recorded in the database each year. During the coverage period, the number of annual prescription redemptions increased by 15%. Most dispensed prescriptions are in the categories "alimentary tract and metabolism", "cardiovascular system", "nervous system", and "respiratory system". Individuals are identified by the unique central personal registration (CPR) number assigned to all persons born in or immigrating to Denmark. The new database fully complies with Denmark's Act on Processing of Personal Data, while avoiding additional restrictions imposed on data use at the Danish National Prescription Registry, administered by Statistics Denmark. Most importantly, CPR numbers are reversibly encrypted, which allows re-identification of drug users; furthermore, the data access is possible outside the servers of Statistics Denmark. These features open additional opportunities for international collaboration, validation studies, studies on adverse drug effects requiring review of medical records, studies involving contact to general practitioners, and linkage of prescription data to other clinical and research databases. The DNDRP thus is a valuable data source for pharmacoepidemiological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sigrun Alba Johannesdottir
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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Abstract
Population-based prescription databases in Nordic countries have become a mainstay of epidemiologic research. Denmark has both national and regional population-based prescription databases. Aarhus University Prescription Database collects data on reimbursed medications dispensed at all community pharmacies of the North Denmark Region and the Central Denmark Region. The regions have a combined population of 1.8 million inhabitants, or one-third of the Danish population. Denmark’s primary health care sector, which includes general practitioners, specialists, and dentists, generates about 96% of the prescription sales, most of which are reimbursable and are dispensed by the community pharmacies. The Aarhus University Prescription Database combines the region’s pharmacy records in a single database, maintained and updated for research purposes. Each dispensation record contains patient-, drug-, and prescriber-related data. Dispensation records retain patients’ universal personal identifier, which allows for individual-level linkage to all Danish registries and medical databases. The linked data have many applications in clinical epidemiology, including drug utilization studies, safety monitoring, etiologic research, and validation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Ehrenstein
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
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