Use of the CPRD Aurum Database: Insights Gained from New Data Quality Assessments

Figures & data

Table 1 Data Use Considerations for Studies Using CPRD Aurum, CPRD GOLD, and Linked Data

CPRD Aurum and CPRD GOLD data coverage	CPRD Aurum contains more patients than GOLD, particularly among currently contributing practices^a CPRD Aurum covers primary English practices (data from 1989 to present)^a CPRD GOLD covers practices from all UK countries; however, currently contributing practices are primarily in Scotland and Wales (data from 1989 to present)^b
CPRD Aurum and CPRD GOLD data quality	Similar data quality in GP records for CPRD Aurum and GOLD, particularly after 2004, though there is variability in quality and completeness over time Validation efforts should be an ongoing component of research using either database
Hospital Episode Statistics and ONS Death Registration	HES and ONS linkage are available for practices in England Most CPRD Aurum practices have linkage to HES and ONS Very few currently contributing CPRD GOLD practices have linkage to HES and ONS data (due to linkage availability for English practices only) HES APC started in 1997 and ONS death registration data started in 1998, after the start of CPRD GOLD and Aurum data HES APC and ONS are updated approximately yearly^c HES OP has limited capture of diagnosis information
Cancer Registry	Cancer Registry linkage available for practices in England Most CPRD Aurum practices have linkage to the Cancer Registry Very few currently contributing CPRD GOLD practices have linkage to the Cancer Registry (due to linkage availability for English practices only) Cancer Registry data include cancer registration data from 1990, with a lag in data availability ^d Establishment of a new national standard for reporting cancer in England in 2013 has improved data capture; completeness of data fields varies significantly by tumour type and calendar time

Notes: ^aCPRD Aurum contains ~13.3 million patients in currently contributing practices primarily in England (>99%) as of the time of this publication. ^bCPRD GOLD contains ~3 million patients in currently contributing practices in England (4%), Scotland (56%), Wales (30%), and Northern Ireland (10%) as of the time of this publication. ^cAt the time of this publication, HES APC and ONS data were available through March 2021 (HES OP April 2003–October 2020). ^dAt the time of this publication, Cancer Registry data were available through December 2018. Process of protocol approval to data delivery can take 12–18 months.

Abbreviations: GP, general practitioner; HES, Hospital Episode Statistics; HES APC, HES Admitted Patient Care (inpatient) data; HES OP, HES Outpatient data; ONS, Office of National Statistics.