title: [Use of clinical databases and central health registries for description of disease courses].
abstract: In Denmark, the linkage between national clinical databases and central health administrative and socio-demographic registries provides unique opportunities for describing and analysing disease courses in ways that can be applied for quality improvement purposes, in the evaluation of new organisational initiatives, and for research. This status article presents an overview of the possibilities and discusses the potentials and challenges.
authors.affiliation: Forskningscenter for Forebyggelse og Sundhed, Kompetencecenter Øst, Glostrup Hospital, Denmark. blf@image.dk
authors.forename: Birgitte Lidegaard
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Frederiksen
authors.forename: Solvej
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mårtensson
authors.forename: Bente Mertz
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Nørgård
authors.forename: Søren Paaske
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Johnsen
authors.forename: Merete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osler
mesh_terms: D016208:Databases, Factual; D003718:Denmark; D006801:Humans; D008498:Medical Record Linkage; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012042:Registries; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors