Data Source

Registry

Type of Study

Registry

Data gathering method

Registries

Conditions of access

Formal agreements (e.g. fees, research contracts, institutional agreements, etc.)

Researchers can gain access to the database through Statistics Denmark. SSI transfers data to Statistics Denmark once a year.

Time elapsed between application and reception of data

Permission to use the Danish Register of Medicinal Product Statistics has to be requested from the Danish Data Protection Agency. This will extend the application process by 1-2 months.

Type of available data (e.g. anonymised microdata, aggregated tables, etc.)

Anonymised microdata

Formats available

SAS

Language issues

Documentation only available in Danish.

Years of collection, reference years, and sample sizes

The registry collects data annually and it covers all Danish citizens who have been diagnosed with diabetes.

First year of collection

1997

Stratification if applicable

Information on the entire Danish population.

Base used for sampling

N.A.

Geographical coverage and breakdowns

N.A.

Age range

N.A.

Statistical representativeness

Includes diabetics that have not (yet) been in contact with the hospital sector, but only their general practitioner. This is done by using indicators created from other registers.

Coverage of main and cross-cutting topics

Covers health

Further Reading

Description of the register and i.e. variable list is available in Danish at www.ssi.dk/.../Diabetesregisteret.aspx

Standardisation

Diagnoses

Possibility of linkage among databases

Data from the Register of Medicinal Product Statistics can be linked to other register data available at Statistics Denmark through an encrypted identification key.

Entry errors if applicable

N.A.

Breaks

N.A.

Consistency of terminology or coding used during collection

N.A.

Strength: This registry provides virtually complete coverage of diabetics, which enables research into other illnesses and the social gradient related to diabetes. Weaknesses: It does have a limited number of variables, e.g. no variable indicating type of diabetes, and there are no official documentation available in English at www.ssi.dk