Using healthcare claims data for outcomes research and pharmacoeconomic analyses

Healthcare claims data are a practical complement to data from randomised c ontrolled trials (RCTs) for evaluating health outcomes in non-experimental settings and for generalising results to a broader population. Claims data are a relatively inexpensive way to obtain useful information about patient demographics, as well as healthcare resources used for specific medical co nditions and procedures from large numbers of patients over extended period s of time. With claims data, it is possible to identify patients who meet s pecific medical or sociodemographic criteria, estimate their costs, define episodes of medical care, and measure outcomes more globally than is possib le with RCT data. Statistical methods exist to address some of the inherent issues with claim s data due to their limited clinical detail. We also identify extensions of claims data to productivity issues, the use of centralised claims data suc h as in Canada, and the application of new statistical methods to outcomes research literature such as sample selection correction methods.