Klinisch-epidemiologische Forschung anhand von Daten der gesetzlichen Krankenkassen - Grenzen und Möglichkeiten

This dissertation discusses potential and limitation of routine data of statutory health insurances for clinical-epidemiological research exemplified by five studies conducted for two different diseases (attention deficit-/hyperactivity disorder and anogenital warts). The included studies examine the burden of disease, prevalence of comorbidities, drug treatment patterns and the effectiveness of a prophylactic vaccine in the general population. The database used for these studies was the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD), which contains records of more than 14 million people from all regions of Germany. The GePaRD contains information of in- and outpatient medical services and of medications that are reimbursed by health insurance companies. For the estimation of the burden of diseases, regional variation of disease and the examination of the effectiveness of a vaccine in the general population routine data of statutory health insurances can be a very valuable data source. For research questions for which the severity of the disease, social status and lifestyle factors are important this data are not or only of limited use.