An example of how digital medical information can be beneficial to patients and drug developers – a new assessment of the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), run by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), has been issued.
CPRD is a not-for-profit government research service that provides anonymised patient data from GP practices across the UK. The database currently holds records for over 71 million patients, supporting research that has informed drug safety decisions, clinical guidelines and public health policy. The database was previously divided between the General Practice Research Database (GPRD) and the Value Added Medical Products (VAMP).
The report finds that the CPRD has contributed to nearly 3,800 peer-reviewed research publications since 1988, according to a new ‘scientometric analysis’ published in the European Journal of Epidemiology.
Scientometric analysis is the quantitative study of scientific literature, using bibliometric data (publications, citations, patents) to map research trends, evaluate performance, and analyse collaboration patterns.
Data is drawn from electronic health records and here primary care data are linked to secondary care data and to other data sources (e.g. mortality, disease-based or treatment-based registries, and socioeconomic status information), so that maximal insights can be gained.
According to NHS England: “Sharing data held in electronic patient records impacts on patient care and is crucial to maintaining and improving health. Sharing data and information is particularly important for patients who suffer from long-term or chronic illnesses, as well as those with rehabilitation or palliative care needs.”
Extracting patient health data
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Oxford and the MHRA’s CPRD team, reveals the substantial global impact of this UK-based health data resource in advancing medical knowledge, improving patient safety and informing healthcare policy.
Based on the 3,779 peer-reviewed publications that have used CPRD data between 1988 and 2024, the overall research output has grown at an average annual rate of 16.37%. In addition, researchers from 29 countries have used CPRD data, with the UK, United States and Canada as leading contributors
Over 80% of recent studies have used primary care records linked with hospital, mortality or other health datasets, demonstrating the value of connected health data.
Enhancing peer-reviewed studies
Commenting on the report’s outcome, Eleanor Axson, co-author and Senior Researcher in the MHRA’s CPRD team, says: “These findings show the UK is a global leader in health data research. This analysis confirms that researchers from 29 countries are using this resource to answer important questions about drug safety and patient outcomes. This international collaboration strengthens our ability to protect public health, both here in the UK and around the world.”
Axson adds: “The research highlights that studies using CPRD data have been published in more than 600 peer-reviewed journals, with BMJ Open and Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety among the most frequent outlets. Seven UK universities rank among the top ten most productive research institutions using CPRD data.”
The study is titled “Academic impact and research data utilisation of the clinical practice research datalink: scientometric analyses.”
