Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia
Advertisement

Study Underlines Benefits of Linking Multiple Health Record Sources

by Kathy Jones on May 25, 2013 at 8:15 PM
 Study Underlines Benefits of Linking Multiple Health Record Sources

A new study has found that one in two heart attack cases are missed to due physicians using just one data source and this problem is common to other conditions, such as stroke.

Electronic health records are increasingly used to measure health outcomes, and for research, but records from one part of the health service (e.g. primary care) may not capture health events occurring in other parts of the health system (e.g. hospital care).

Advertisement

So a team of researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and UCL compared electronic health records for one major disease event - heart attack (myocardial infarction) - across four national health record sources in England: primary care, hospital care, disease registry and death records.

Previous studies have typically compared only one or two electronic sources.

They identified 21,482 patients with a record of acute myocardial infarction in one or more of the four data sources.
Advertisement

Risk factor profiles and one year all cause mortality rates were comparable across records from different sources.

However, they found that each data source missed a substantial proportion of cases. For example, only one third of non-fatal myocardial infarctions were recorded in all three data sources (primary care, hospital care and disease registry), while two thirds were recorded in two sources.

Primary care records were the single most complete source of non-fatal myocardial infarction records (not recording one quarter), hospital records missed one third and the disease registry nearly half.

In other words, acute myocardial infarction was underestimated by 25-50% using one source compared to using all three.

"With the current emphasis on measuring clinical outcomes in health systems and recent plans to use linked data to drive improvements in the care of patients with cardiovascular disease, our study has important implications for practice and policy," say the authors.

And they say future research should focus on areas such as improving how data are coded, understanding how linkages with primary care, admission to hospital and mortality data compare, and evaluating the quality of the data available in these linked data.



Source: Eurekalert
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Health Insurance News

Medicare's Telehealth Cut Raises Patient Access Concerns
The Medicare Benefits Schedule Review Advisory Committee (MRAC) is seeking input on the recommendations as part of its broader review of Medicare-funded telehealth services.
How Crucial is Medicaid for Adults Living With Down Syndrome?
As a growing number of individuals with Down syndrome reach advanced ages, the Medicaid system should be prepared to deliver customized healthcare.
Health Insurance Gap: 25% of Low-Income Older Americans Uninsured
Discontinuities in health insurance coverage among older Americans, who experience a higher prevalence of health concerns compared to the broader population.
1 in 5 Medicare Recipients Travel Over 50 Miles for Neurologist Visits
The distance one must travel can pose a significant obstacle to healthcare access for people dealing with chronic neurological conditions.
The Visible Toll: Affordability Crisis in Health
Inability to afford better healthcare is apparent in the appearance of the malnourished poor, just as the obese reveal the "cost" of their health.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Study Underlines Benefits of Linking Multiple Health Record Sources Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests