Table 2 Examples of epidemiologic research with HISlink data, Belgium
Study | Research questions | Key findings | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
Validity of mammography uptake in women aged 50–69 years | To which extent self-reported mammography uptake from BHIS is valid as compared to objective information from IMA? | The validity of self-reported mammography uptake in women aged 50–69 years is affected by both selection and reporting bias. Cautiousness is needed when using self-reported estimates as the sole method to quantify mammography coverage. | Berete et al. (2020) [22] |
Ascertainment of chronic diseases | Can the indicators of pseudopathologies in administrative data (IMA data) be used to assess prevalence of chronic diseases in the general population? | The indicators of pseudopathologies are an acceptable alternative to identify cases of diabetes, CVDs, Parkinson’s disease and thyroid disorders but yield in a significant underestimated number of patients suffering from asthma and COPD. Further research is needed to refine the definitions of CDs from administrative data. | Berete et al. (2020) [27] |
Impact of financial protective measures on dental health care use | What is the effectiveness of financial protective measures on the use of dental care among a representative sample of Belgian adults? | Current health interventions are not yet effective for vulnerable people in dental care use. High expenses as a result of chronic diseases are not associated with more postponement of dental care. More targeted financial interventions should be necessary to reduce postponement of dental service utilization. | Berete et al. (2020) [39] |
Nursing home admission in older population in Belgium | What is the risk of nursing home admission among older population of 65 + years in Belgium? What are the predictors? | The cumulative risk of NHA was 1.4%, 5.7% and 13.1% at, respectively 1 year, 3 years and 5 years of follow-up Higher age, living arrangements, use of home care services, falls, urinary incontinence, subjective health, limitations, depression, Alzheimer disease, etc., appeared as strong predictors nursing home admission. | (Berete et al., 2022) [29] |
Mediation effects of health literacy | Does health literacy mediate the relationship between socioeconomic status and health related outcomes in the Belgian adult population? | HL partially mediated the relationship between education and health behaviour (except tobacco consumption), perceived health status, purchase of antidepressants and preventive dental care, accounting for 4.4–15.4% of the total effect. Health literacy also mediated the association between income health behaviour (except alcohol consumption), perceived health status, purchase of antidepressants and preventive dental care, with the mediation effects accounting for 4.2–12.0% of the total effect. | Berete et al. Will be submitted to BMC Public Health [40] |
Assessing prevalence of polypharmacy among older adults | What is the differences in the prevalence and determinants of polypharmacy in the older population between self-reported and prescription based estimates? What is the relative merits of each data source? | Surveys and prescription data measure polypharmacy from a different perspective, but overall conclusions in terms of prevalence and determinants of polypharmacy do not differ substantially by data source. | Van der Heyden et al. (2021) [30] |
Association between polypharmacy and mortality in older population | What is the association between polypharmacy and mortality in the community dwelling population of 65 + years in Belgium? | Polypharmacy affects the mortality of older people in relatively good health. A critical evaluation of polypharmacy in older people below 80 years and in people without severe functional limitations may reduce mortality in these population groups. | Van der Heyden et al. (2021) [42] |
Costs associated with excess weight in Belgium | What are the annual health care and lost productivity costs associated with excess weight among the adult population in Belgium, using national health data? | BMI has a substantial societal economic burden in Belgium. Every year at least €4.5 billion are spent to cover the direct and indirect costs related to overweight and obesity. Policies and interventions are urgently needed to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity thereby decreasing these substantial costs. | Gorasso at al. [41] |