Use of Administrative Databases to Assess Reproductive Health Issues in Rheumatic Diseases

Abstract

Administrative databases, registers, and other sources of big data can be interesting sources to address important research questions on reproduction in women with rheumatic diseases. There are many different types of administrative datasets worldwide, and it is important to understand the type of data present and unavailable in each dataset, validity and potential misclassification of data, and the ability to link maternal data with infant data. This article discusses the advantages and methodologic issues associated with administrative database use for the conduct of observational studies on reproductive issues in women with rheumatic diseases.

Keywords: Administrative databases; Adverse pregnancy outcomes; Epidemiology; Reproductive health; Rheumatic diseases.