Table 1

List of participating countries/regions and databases

Country/regionDatabaseData nature and healthcare settingPopulation coverageStudy periodDenominatorData source for medical conditionsData source for medication useData source for death
Asia-Pacific
 Victoria, AustraliaLinked hospital databases in the State of VictoriaEMR data from all Victorian public and private hospitals100% (26 % of Australian population)2012–2018Mid-year population in the state of VictoriaInpatient diagnosisDispensed and reimbursed data from Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits SchemeDeath Registry
 Hong KongClinical Data Analysis and Reporting SystemEMR data from all public hospitals and clinics90%2005–2018Mid-year population in Hong KongInpatient and outpatient diagnosisDispensed data in public hospitals and clinicsDeath registry
 JapanJapanese Medical Data CenterClaims data from >200 medical institutions6%2005–2018Number of individuals in the database at start of yearInpatient and outpatient diagnosisReimbursed data in pharmacy claimsTBC
 South KoreaHealth Insurance Review and Assessment ServiceNational Claims97%2008–2018Mid-year population in South KoreaInpatient and outpatient diagnosisDispensed data in hospitals and reimbursed data in pharmacy claimsNational mortality registration data
 New ZealandMinistry of Health national databasesNational data98%2005–2018Mid-year population in New ZealandInpatient and outpatient diagnosisNational pharmaceutical claims database for all subsidised medicines in New ZealandNational death registration data (mortality dataset)
 SingaporeSingapore Ministry of Health Central Claims Processing SystemNational Claims, Registries100%2005–2017Mid-year population in SingaporeInpatient diagnosisNANational death registration data
 TaiwanNational Health Insurance DatabaseNational Claims99%2005–2018Mid-year population in TaiwanInpatient and outpatient diagnosisReimbursed data in pharmacy claimsCause of death registry
 ThailandCentral data from National Health Security OfficeNational Data67%2014–2018Mid-year population in ThailandInpatient diagnosisReimbursed dataNational Data
Hospital databasesEMRVaries across hospitalsVaries across hospitalsMid-year population in EMRInpatient diagnosisDiagnosis and dispensed dataEMR
Western Europe
 FranceSNDSNational Claims99%2006–2018Mid-year population in FranceInpatient diagnosisReimbursed data in outpatientsNational death registry
 GermanyGerman sickness funds (WIG2)Claims5%2012–2018Mid-year population in ItalyInpatient diagnosisReimbursed data in pharmacy claimsTBC
 ItalyPool of databases from 5 different regions (Lazio, Napoli, Umbria, Piemonte, Marche)ClaimsTBC2012–2018 (Marche and Umbria)
2015–2018 (Piemonte, Napoli, Lazio)
Mid-year population in ItalyInpatient diagnosisReimbursed data in pharmacy claimsNA
 NetherlandsIntegrated Primary Care Information databasePrimary care EMR from >700 general practices (GP)10%2005–2018Number of individuals in the database at start of yearGP diagnosisGP prescriptionNA
 SpainSpanish Centralized Hospital Discharge DatabaseEMR in all public and private hospitals99.5%2005–2018Mid-year population in SpainInpatient diagnosisNANA
 UKClinical Practice Research DatalinkPrimary care EMR from >650 GP24%2005–2018Number of individuals in the database at start of yearInpatient diagnosisGP prescription Office for National Statistics
Northern Europe
 DenmarkDanish National Prescription Registry, Danish National Patient Register, Danish Civil Registration system, Cause of Death registerNational Registries100%2005–2018Mid-year population in DenmarkInpatient and outpatient diagnosisDispensed data at community pharmaciesNational death registry
 FinlandFinnish Prescription Register, Care Register for Health Care, Causes of Death RegisterNational Registries100%2005–2018Population of Finland at the turn of the yearInpatient and outpatient diagnosisReimbursed data in pharmaciesNational death registry
South & North America
 BrazilDATASUSNational Data70%2005–2018Mid-year population in BrazilInpatient and outpatient diagnosisTBCNational mortality information system
 CanadaThe Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance SystemPhysician billing, hospitalisation and prescription drug databases from all Canadian provinces and territories97%incidence, mortality : 2005–2017
Treatment: 2005–2016 *by fiscal year from 1 April to 31 March
Number of individuals with valid health insurance at start of yearInpatient diagnosisProvincial /Territorial Drug Plan DatabasesProvincial/Territorial Health Registries
 USAMedicare fee-for-service 20%National Claims for patients covered by MedicareMedicare covers more than 90% of population ≥65 years; about 70% in the Medicare fee-for-service programme. The data will be used for this study is a 20% random sample.2007–2018Number of individuals in the database at start of yearInpatient and outpatient diagnosisReimbursed data in pharmacy claimsMedicare death report and national social security death master file
 USAOptumClaims database for commercial-insured populationTBC2005–2018Number of individuals in the database at start of yearInpatient and outpatient diagnosisReimbursed data in pharmacy claimsTBC