title: Considerations in using registry and health plan data for studying pregnancy in rheumatic diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of different data sources for pregnancy-related research in patients with rheumatic diseases. We describe challenges in studying adverse pregnancy outcomes in the setting of observational research, with a particular focus on the studies of maternal drug exposures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We discuss potential threats to validity in the assessment of exposure and outcomes and controlling for confounding; present findings from selected pregnancy-related observational studies conducted using data from registries and health plans; and highlight future research opportunities for pregnancy research.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Registry and health plan data contribute complementary information to each other. Used together, linked data sources may allow clinicians, researchers, and patients to obtain a more complete understanding of the risk and benefits associated with maternal drug exposure and of the risk factors associated with adverse birth outcomes in women with rheumatic disease.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Epidemiology bDivision of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jeffrey R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Curtis
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008498:Medical Record Linkage; D008499:Medical Records; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012042:Registries; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018401:Sample Size
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents