Impact of data source choice on multimorbidity measurement: a comparison study of 2.3 million individuals in the Welsh National Health Service.

Clare MacRaeDaniel MoralesStewart W MercerNazir LoneAndrew LawsonEmily JeffersonDavid McAllisterMarjan van den AkkerAlan MarshallSohan SethAnna RawlingsJane LyonsRonan A LyonsAmy MizenEleojo AbubakarChris DibbenBruce Guthrie

Published in: BMC medicine (2023)

The use of single data sources may underestimate prevalence when measuring multimorbidity and many important conditions (especially mental and behavioural disorders). Caution should be used when interpreting findings of research examining individual and multiple long-term conditions using single data sources. Where available, researchers using electronic health data should link primary care and hospital inpatient data to generate more robust evidence to support evidence-based healthcare planning decisions for people with multimorbidity.

Keyphrases

healthcare
electronic health record
primary care
big data
palliative care
data analysis
machine learning
acute care
climate change
quality improvement
health insurance
decision making
general practice