Development and implementation of a high-quality clinical database: the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Adult Patient Database

Stow, Peter J.; Hart, Graeme K.; Higlett, Tracey; George, Carol; Herkes, Robert; McWilliam, David; Bellomo, Rinaldo; for the ANZICS Database Management Committee,

doi:10.1016/j.jcrc.2005.11.010

« Previous Next »Journal of Critical Care
Volume 21, Issue 2 , Pages 133-141, June 2006

Development and implementation of a high-quality clinical database: the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Adult Patient Database

Peter J. Stow
- ANZICS Adult Patient Database (APD), Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia
Graeme K. Hart
- ANZICS Database Management Committee, Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia
- ANZICS Research Centre for Critical Care Resources (ARCCCR), Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia
Tracey Higlett
- ANZICS Research Centre for Critical Care Resources (ARCCCR), Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia
- Corresponding author. ANZICS Research Centre for Critical Care Resources, Level 3, 10 Ievers Terrace, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia.
Carol George
- ANZICS Adult Patient Database (APD), Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia
Robert Herkes
- Intensive Care Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2050 Australia
David McWilliam
- Intensive Care Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2050 Australia
Rinaldo Bellomo
- Intensive Care Research, Austin Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia
for the ANZICS Database Management Committee

Abstract

Objective

To describe the development of a binational intensive care database.

Setting

One hundred thirty-eight intensive care units (ICUs) in Australia and New Zealand.

Methods

A structure was developed to enable ICUs to submit data for central and local analysis. Reports were developed to allow comparison with similar ICU types and against published mortality prediction models. The database was evaluated according to (a) the criteria of the Directory of Clinical Databases (DoCDat) and (b) a proposed framework for data quality assurance in medical registries.

Results

Between January 1987 and December 2003, 444147 data sets were collected from 121 (72.5%) of 167 Australian and 10 (37.0%) of 27 New Zealand ICUs. Data sets from more than 60000 ICU admissions were submitted in 2003. Overall hospital mortality was 14.5%. The mean quality level achieved according to DoCDat criteria was high as was performance against a proposed framework for data quality. The provision of no-cost software has been vitally important to the success of the database.

Conclusion

A high-quality ICU database has successfully been implemented in Australia and New Zealand and is now used as a routine quality assurance and peer review tool. Similar developments may be both possible and desirable in other countries.

Keywords: Intensive Care, Critical Care, Admission, Epidemiology, Mortality, Severity of Illness, Australia, New Zealand