A significant breakthrough in public health research has been reported by a team from the University of Birmingham. Their study on ectopic pregnancy, published in BMC Medical Research Methodology, marks an important step forward.
The research focused on data from an ‘open cohort,’ a group where individuals can enter and leave at different times during the study period. This approach contrasts with a ‘closed cohort,’ where the group remains constant. The open cohort method, while complex and time-consuming, better represents electronic health record databases.
These electronic records contain vast amounts of data. When fully utilized, they can reveal trends, target healthcare for specific groups, and help reduce health inequalities.
The research team previously developed the Dexter software platform. This tool automates data extraction and analysis from electronic health records, streamlining the process for health researchers.
Researchers use two main metrics: incidence (newly diagnosed cases within a specific time frame) and prevalence (the proportion of the population diagnosed at any time). These calculations are often automated, but the computer code for them is not standardized, leading to inconsistencies across studies.
To address this, Dr. Neil Cockburn and his team from Birmingham’s Institute of Applied Health Research created standardized code for calculating incidence and prevalence. This code can be applied to any open cohort and is freely available in their paper. It can be downloaded as a standalone program or integrated into other software packages.
Study Findings
The study provided a detailed example of ectopic pregnancy prevalence and incidence from 2006 to 2021. The researchers observed an overall increase in both metrics, which they attribute to improved record-keeping as electronic health systems matured.
The study also highlighted variations in ectopic pregnancy prevalence by ethnicity. It was higher in women of black ethnicity compared to white ethnicity, lower in women of mixed and white ethnicity (with no difference between the two), and lowest among women of Asian or other ethnicities or where ethnicity was not recorded.
Dr. Cockburn emphasized the importance of this research: “Despite being a key risk to maternal health and a leading cause of maternal mortality in the first trimester, UK incidence and prevalence have not been reported since 2011. Moreover, no study has reported the burden in key subgroups.”
This research represents a crucial advancement in understanding and addressing ectopic pregnancy, paving the way for improved maternal health outcomes.
