Protocol for a population-based Ankylosing Spondylitis (PAS) cohort in Wales

Atkinson, M. D., Brophy, S., Siebert, S. , Gravenor, M. B., Phillips, C. J., Ford, D. V., Jones, K. H. and Lyons, R. A. (2010) Protocol for a population-based Ankylosing Spondylitis (PAS) cohort in Wales. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 11(1), 197. (doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-11-197) (PMID:20809952) (PMCID:PMC2941484)

Abstract

Background: To develop a population-based cohort of people with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Wales using (1) secondary care clinical datasets, (2) patient-derived questionnaire data and (3) routinely-collected information in order to examine disease history and the health economic cost of AS. Methods: This data model will include and link (1) secondary care clinician datasets (i.e. electronic patient notes from the rheumatologist) (2) patient completed questionnaires (giving information on disease activity, medication, function, quality of life, work limitations and health service utilisation) and (3) a broad range of routinely collected data (including; GP records, in-patient hospital admission data, emergency department data, laboratory/pathology data and social services databases). The protocol involves the use of a unique and powerful data linkage system which allows datasets to be interlinked and to complement each other. Discussion: This cohort can integrate patient supplied, primary and secondary care data into a unified data model. This can be used to study a range of issues such as; the true economic costs to the health care system and the patient, factors associated with the development of severe disease, long term adverse events of new and existing medication and to understand the disease history of this condition. It will benefit patients, clinicians and health care managers. This study forms a pilot project for the use of routine data/patient data linked cohorts for other chronic conditions.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Siebert, Professor Stefan
• Authors: Atkinson, M. D., Brophy, S., Siebert, S., Gravenor, M. B., Phillips, C. J., Ford, D. V., Jones, K. H., and Lyons, R. A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
• Publisher: Biomed Central
• ISSN: 1471-2474
• ISSN (Online): 1471-2474
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2010 The Author
• First Published: First published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 11(1):197
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License