Taipei Medical University Clinical Research Database: a collaborative hospital EHR database aligned with international common data standards

• Published in: BMJ health & care informatics Vol. 31; no. 1; p. e100890
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Phung-Anh, Hsu, Min-Huei, Chang, Tzu-Hao, Yang, Hsuan-Chia, Huang, Chih-Wei, Liao, Chia-Te, Lu, Christine Y., Hsu, Jason C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 14.05.2024; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group
• Subjects: Blood pressure; Cancer; Clinical trials; Codes; Collaboration; Data science; database management systems; Databases, Factual; Electronic Health Records; evidence-based medicine; health information management; Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act 1996-US; Hospitals; Hospitals, University; Humans; Information Management; Medical equipment; Medical laboratories; Medical practices; Medical Record Linkage; Medical records; Mortality; National health insurance; Original Research; Patients; Taiwan; Taiwan; United States > US; Information Management; Medical Record Linkage; database management systems; health information management; evidence-based medicine
• ISSN: 2632-1009
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjhci-2023-100890

ObjectiveThe objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the development and features of the Taipei Medical University Clinical Research Database (TMUCRD), a repository of real-world data (RWD) derived from electronic health records (EHRs) and other sources.MethodsTMUCRD was developed by integrating EHRs from three affiliated hospitals, including Taipei Medical University Hospital, Wan-Fang Hospital and Shuang-Ho Hospital. The data cover over 15 years and include diverse patient care information. The database was converted to the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model (OMOP CDM) for standardisation.ResultsTMUCRD comprises 89 tables (eg, 29 tables for each hospital and 2 linked tables), including demographics, diagnoses, medications, procedures and measurements, among others. It encompasses data from more than 4.15 million patients with various medical records, spanning from the year 2004 to 2021. The dataset offers insights into disease prevalence, medication usage, laboratory tests and patient characteristics.DiscussionTMUCRD stands out due to its unique advantages, including diverse data types, comprehensive patient information, linked mortality and cancer registry data, regular updates and a swift application process. Its compatibility with the OMOP CDM enhances its usability and interoperability.ConclusionTMUCRD serves as a valuable resource for researchers and scholars interested in leveraging RWD for clinical research. Its availability and integration of diverse healthcare data contribute to a collaborative and data-driven approach to advancing medical knowledge and practice.