CEC-UW Strengths and Limitations
CEC-UW Strengths
- Very Large and Varied Population:
- More than 1.6 million discrete patients meeting the COVID-19 case definition included in sample since February 1, 2020
- 21 different health systems from across the nation with diverse populations
- The Potential of Longitudinal Data: Because each patient maintains a unique identifier and health system data were updated regularly, we can:
- Evaluate the frequency and types of re-treatment (inpatient or outpatient) for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 illnesses after the original COVID-19 diagnosis over the 24 months of data collection.
- Assess the evolution of the disease and its treatments on outcomes (e.g., changes in death rates within and across health systems).
- Limited Data Set: In calendar year 2020, data were entirely de-identified, HIPPA compliant. In calendar year 2021, the data set was transformed to a limited data set allowing for collection of dates of service and five-digit zip code.
- Extensive Array of Data Elements: Approximately 250 discrete EHR data elements provide the capacity to examine relations between these variables and outcomes.
- Regular Data Pulls Retrospective to February 1, 2020: Health system data has been extracted regularly since February 1, 2020. These repeated data extractions allow for the addition and refinement of data elements over time to:
- Add data elements of interest (e.g., vaccine data, Remdesivir, neurologic symptoms).
- Improve accuracy of data elements collected (e.g., COVID-19 diagnostic criteria, death definition).
CEC-UW Limitations
COVID-19 Cases Only: The cohort is limited to individuals diagnosed with COVID-19; thus, we are unable to examine the risk of developing COVID-19 or compare findings of cohort members to individuals without a COVID-19 diagnosis.
Discrete Data Elements Only: The data pulled is almost exclusively limited to discrete EHR data elements. It typically does not include data from text fields within the EHR.
Missing Data: For many EHR data elements (e.g., vaping), a large proportion of patients have no data reported.
Harmonizing EHR Data across Health Systems: Merging data from different health systems highlights the idiosyncratic nature of how each system records EHR data, even if on the same EHR platform (e.g., Epic)
Patient Data is limited to Health System Where COVID-19 Was Diagnosed: Thus, if patient dies or subsequently receives care at an alternative health system, those events are not captured.
CEC-UW Essentials
