The Forum maintains a centralized data warehouse of vital statistics, demographics, environmental information, provider claims, prescription drugs use, clinical laboratory values, health care access points and other data elements.
For future epidemiological studies, linkage with provincial medical databases will allow obtaining data from physician billing claims, prescription drugs claims, and hospitalizations.
An analysis of claims data showed that gout sufferers incurred more costs for medical claims, prescription claims, sick leave, short-term disability, and worker's compensation than did other employees [ 36].
From the RAMQ database, we obtained in- and out-patient physician and procedure claims, prescription drug claims, and demographic data on all patients aged 65 years and older who were dispensed COX-2 inhibitors, ns-NSAIDs, aspirin, or acetaminophen between January 1998 and December 2002 in the province.
The pharmacies also register all claimed prescriptions.
We identified all claimed prescriptions for NSAIDs (ATC M01A, excluding glucosamine (M01AX05)).
Patients with psoriasis were identified by their claimed prescriptions of topical vitamin D derivates (ATC D05AX).
Initiation of GLM during follow-up was assessed by claimed prescriptions from pharmacies.
Patients were identified according to claimed prescriptions within 30 days from discharge.
