Using Large Datasets for

Populations-based Health Research

Dr. Ch.Muhammad Junaid Nazar
MBBS,MPH(UK),MD INTERNAL MEDICINE(UK), Msc
Nephrology(UK), FRSPH (UK),FCPS-1,IMM
Nephrologist/ Clinical Research
Nephrology Department,
Shifa International Hospital,
Pakistan.

Content
Introduction
Where Does the Data Comes from?
Uses of Secondary Data in Health
Research
Strengths
Limitations and Solutions
Future Directions and Conclusion

Data Sources
Primary Data
National Surveys
Disease Registries
1. United Network for Organ Transplant Sharing Database (UNOS)
. https://www.unos.org
2. Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Cancer Data Base
(SEER)
. http://seer.cancer.gov

.Secondary Data
.
Hospital Discharge
.
Public Data e.g., claims and surveys data complied by Medicare
and health government agencies
.
Private Data e.g., created by pharmacies, research oriented HMOs

Uses of Secondary Data in Health

Research
Monitoring Secular Trends
Health Disparities Research
Geographic Variation
Evaluating Specific Disease and
Treatments

Strengths
Researchers can draw conclusions
about large populations
Well Suited for studying rare
conditions or events because they
contain enough cases to maintain
statistical power
Inexpensive and more quick results

Limitation
Data Quality
Lack of Clinical Detail
Data Mining and Statistical
Significances
Generalizability and the Ecological
Fallacy

Ethical Considerations
Informed Consent
Future Directions and Conclusions
Health data networks
National Institute of Population Studies(NIPS)
Human Organ Transplant Association ( HOTA)
Shifa Cancer Registry
Gallop
GN Registry
Healthy People
NADRA