Table of Pharmacoepidemiology Data Elements

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This table of data elements provides a snapshot of the material contained in the various pharmacoepidemology databases listed in the left-most column. When specific information is included in a database (e.g. age, race, site/histology), the letter "Y" appears in the table cell; if no information is available, the letter "N" is used. Some cells contain more specific information, as available.

US Healthcare Database/System Data collection Demographics Cancer Information Pharmaceutical Use Inpatient Dx Inpatient Procedures Otpt Dx Outpatient Procedures Lab Values Vital Status Approx. Population Size
Age Race Gender Residence Site/Histology Stage/Severity at Dx Date of Diagnosis Agent Dose Duration of Tx
Government Databases
DOD Continuous Y Y Y Address Yes (ACTUR) Y   Y Y Y ICD9 ICD9 ICD9 CPT-4 Y Y 9.1M
Veterans Affairs Continuous Y Y (about 25% listed unknown) Y ZIP Code Not available in traditional research databases, it is in the EMR (CPRS), the VA Central Cancer Registry has the information. However, access to the Registry is highly limited, especially outside the VA Not available in traditional research databases, it is in the EMR (CPRS), the VA Central Cancer Registry has the information. However, access to the Registry is highly limited, especially outside the VA   Yes through the Decision Support System (DSS) and Pharmacy Benefits Management Database (PBM) - DSS is typically easier to access Available from the PBM only until FY 2007, not available in both PBM and DSS In both PBM and DSS ICD9, in centralized databases often accessed by researchers (Medical SAS Inpatient Datasets Housed at the Austin Automation Center) ICD9, in centralized databases often accessed by researchers (Medical SAS Inpatient Datasets Housed at the Austin Automation Center) ICD9, in centralized databases often accessed by researchers (Medical SAS Outpatient Datasets Housed at the Austin Automation Center) CPT, in centralized databases often accessed by researchers (Medical SAS Outpatient Datasets Housed at the Austin Automation Center) All lab values in the EMR.  Certain lab values are in the Decision Support System that can be access by researcher (new lab values have been added to the DSS each year since out FY 2003) Yes (VA Vital Status Files) Approx. 5.3 million patients in FY '05
Medicare Continuous Y Y Y ZIP Code N N   Pt D (future) Y   ICD9 ICD9 ICD9 CPT-4 N Yes, no COD 35M+
SEER-Medicare Every 5 years? Y Y Y Census Tract Y Y   N N N ICD-Oncology Surgery ICD-O Some Radt N Yes, COD More than 2.4M in '07
Tennessee Medicaid Database (Linkage to Tennesse Cancer Registry) Ad hoc Y Y Y Census Tract Y Y   Y Y Y ICD9-CM ICD9-CM ICD9-CM     Yes, via Vital Statistics Linkage Approx. 1.2M in '06
Ohio Medicaid Database Ad hoc Y Y Y         Y     ICD9-CM ICD9-CM ICD9-CM CPT-4 Y   Approx. 1.75M in '06
New Jersey Medicaid Database Ad hoc Y Y Y Y Yes, Linked to NJ Cancer Registry Yes, Linked to NJ Cancer Registry   Y Y Y ICD9 ICD9 ICD9   Y Y Approx. 0.86M in '06
California Cancer Registry-Medicaid Ad hoc                     ICD9-CM ICD9-CM ICD9-CM       Approx. 6.5M in '06
Metropolitan Detroit-Michigan Medicaid Ad hoc                     ICD9-CM ICD9-CM ICD9-CM        
HMO-Cancer Research Network (HMO-CRN)
Fallon Community Health Plan Continuous Y *1 Y Address Yes, partial population     Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y 123,000 in '05
Group Health Cooperative Continuous Y *1 Y Address Y Y   Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 600,000
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Continuous Y *1 Y Address Yes, partial population     Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 804,000 in '03
HealthPartners Continuous Y *1 Y Address Not yet     Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y 642,000 in '06
Henry Ford/Health Alliance Plan Continuous Y Y Y Address Y Y   Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 577,000
Kaiser Permanente Colorado Continuous Y *1 Y Address Y Y   Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 476,000 in '06
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Continuous Y *1 Y Address Y Y   Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 223,000 in '06
Kaiser Permanente Georgia Continuous Y *1 Y Address Y Y   Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y ? 8M in '06
Kaiser Permanente N. California Continuous Y *1 Y Address Y Y   Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N ? 3.3M in '06
Kaiser Permanente Northwest Continuous Y *1 Y Address Y Y   Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 490,000 in '06
Kaiser Permanente S. California Continuous Y *1 Y Address Y Y   Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 3.25M in '06
Lovelace Sandia Health System* Continuous Y *1 Y Address Not yet     Y Y Y Y Y Y Y ? ? 250,000 in '07
Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation Continuous Y *1 Y Address       Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y ?  
HMO-Cancer Research Network (not in HMO-CRN)
Scott & White Health System Continuous Y N Y Address/ZIP Code ? N   Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N 210,000
Geisinger Health System Continuous Y *1 Y Address Y Y   Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 1.2M
Others
UnitedHealth Group Continuous Y Y Y         Y Y Y ICD-9 ICD-9 ICD-9 CPT-4 Y   Approx. 13 million
HealthCore (Wellpoint Health Networks/BC/BS) Continuous Y   Y         Y Y Y ICD9-CM ICD9-CM ICD9-CM   Y   Approx. 4.4 million members

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Last Updated: 02 Feb 2012

Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences National Cancer Institute Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health USA.gov