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. 2012 Dec;41(6):1614-24.
doi: 10.1093/ije/dys195. Epub 2012 Nov 18.

Data resource profile: the Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP) medical records-linkage system

Jennifer L St Sauver  1 , Brandon R Grossardt, Barbara P Yawn, L Joseph Melton 3rd, Joshua J Pankratz, Scott M Brue, Walter A Rocca
Affiliations

Data resource profile: the Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP) medical records-linkage system

Jennifer L St Sauver et al. Int J Epidemiol. 2012 Dec.

Abstract

The Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP) medical records-linkage system was established in 1966 to capture health care information for the entire population of Olmsted County, MN, USA. The REP includes a dynamic cohort of 502 820 unique individuals who resided in Olmsted County at some point between 1966 and 2010, and received health care for any reason at a health care provider within the system. The data available electronically (electronic REP indexes) include demographic characteristics, medical diagnostic codes, surgical procedure codes and death information (including causes of death). In addition, for each resident, the system keeps a complete list of all paper records, electronic records and scanned documents that are available in full text for in-depth review and abstraction. The REP serves as the research infrastructure for studies of virtually all diseases that come to medical attention, and has supported over 2000 peer-reviewed publications since 1966. The system covers residents of all ages and both sexes, regardless of socio-economic status, ethnicity or insurance status. For further information regarding the use of the REP for a specific study, please visit our website at www.rochesterproject.org or contact us at info@rochesterproject.org. Our website also provides access to an introductory video in English and Spanish.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Age-specific percentage of persons returning within 1, 2 and 3 years after the baseline visit (1 January 2000) in women (left panel) and men (right panel). A horizontal reference line at 90% serves as a visual aid
Figure 2
Figure 2
Follow-up status of Olmsted County residents from 1 January 2000 through 31 December 2010 (11 years of follow-up). Percentage of participants who were followed completely through death or through 31 December 2010 (censored alive at end of follow-up; (A) percentage of participants who were lost to follow-up after at least one return visit (partially followed; (B) percentage of participants who never returned to one of the health care providers participating in the REP after the baseline visit; (C) no follow-up
Figure 3
Figure 3
Age- and sex-specific autopsy rates in Olmsted County, MN, for the period 1966–2010 combined (A) and age-adjusted autopsy rates over almost half a century (B) rates adjusted to the age distribution of deaths in the 2006–2010 period
Figure 4
Figure 4
A screen shot of the REP Browser is provided as an example of the layout of information for a given subject in the system. The data shown are artificial data and do not refer to real persons. Only the three records shown within the rectangular box were recognized as linked to the test subject. OMC, Olmsted Medical Center; BAN, Rochester Family Medicine Clinic (Dr Banfield); MC, Mayo Clinic
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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    1. St Sauver JL, Grossardt BR, Yawn BP, Melton LJ, III, Rocca WA. Use of a medical records linkage system to enumerate a dynamic population over time: the Rochester epidemiology project. Am J Epidemiol. 2011;173:1059–68. - PMC - PubMed
    1. St Sauver JL, Grossardt BR, Leibson CL, Yawn BP, Melton LJ, III, Rocca WA. Generalizability of epidemiological findings and public health decisions: an illustration from the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Mayo Clin Proc. 2012;87:151–60. - PMC - PubMed
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