Combining electronic healthcare databases in Europe to allow for large‐scale drug safety monitoring: the EU‐ADR Project

Abstract

Combining data from EHR databases of different countries to identify drug-adverse event associations is feasible and can set the stage for changing and enlarging the scale for drug safety monitoring.

Converting to a Common Data Model: What is Lost in Translation?

“…Although experience for previous studies could be re-used, the objective is not to transform as much data as possible, but only the required set. For example, in the EU-ADR project, a custom built tool (Jerboa) was applied on common input files stemming from various data sources [2]. Aggregated output generated by Jerboa allowed for pooling of results and subsequent analysis.…”

Behind the scenes in public health: Adverse events following immunization (AEFI) signal investigation in British Columbia

“…In addition to passive surveillance, active surveillance for select populations and events such as those conducted through the Immunization Monitoring Program ACTive (IMPACT) and the PHAC-CIHR Influenza Research Network (PCIRN) contribute to safety assurance in Canada. Future efforts should also aim to establish partnerships for multi-country data pooling to facilitate detection of both rare and possibly currently unrecognized vaccine event associations (13).…”

Generating Evidence From Computerized Healthcare Utilization Databases

“…74,75 This may produce damage because HCU databases offer great opportunities but they also carry, as it has been emphasized in a recent editorial, 76 the responsibility that their conclusion may lead to decisions that involve the health care of a large number of beneficiaries. Proper use of HCU databases need not forget challenges that are still inherent to this approach.…”