Methodological Issues in the Use of Administrative Databases to Study Heart Failure

Advantages and criticisms in using administrative data for clinical and epidemiological research are well discussed. These databases were originally designed for administrative aims rather than for clinical research. Several choices are necessary to make these databases suitable for clinical and epidemiological research. The choices have to be explicit and clearly declared, to let the reader know their possible effects. In this work we discuss methodological issues concerning the preliminary work on data from a regional project. Methodological issues in the use of administrative databases to study heart failure.. Available from: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/263325973_Methodological_issues_in_the_use_of_administrative_databases_to_study_heart_failure [accessed Jun 4, 2015]