title: The use of large databases to study pneumonia: what is their value?
abstract: A large pneumonia database can be defined as one containing more than 1000 patients. Important strengths of large databases include the ability to evaluate infrequent predictor or outcome variables, and increased generalizability. Beyond analysis of the database core study, large databases facilitate secondary analysis, expansion with ancillary studies, and concurrent analysis with other databases. Computer technology is now available that is able to merge sizable databases with the objective to generate a very large database. Construction of a global, very large pneumonia database is an achievable goal that can move clinical research in pneumonia to a higher level.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wiemken
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peyrani
authors.forename: Forest W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramirez
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D011014:Pneumonia