Healthcare Databases for Paediatric Studies: A Report from the GRiP Network Global Survey

Background: A global federation of available healthcare databases on infants, children, and adolescents could provide currently missing power and data comparability to improve knowledge on disease burden, and drug/ vaccine use and safety. Objectives: To identify and describe globally automated healthcare databases as a first step to create a collaborative network. Methods: In frame of the Global Research in Paediatric (GRiP) network (http://www.grip-network.org), we performed a web-based survey among all databases that were identified through manual revision of the pharmacoepidemiology/pharmacovigilance conference abstracts, the Bridge.to.Data database or by direct knowledge of the GRiP network members. The survey solicited information on the database contact, available population, exposure and outcome, as well as access, governance and sharing possibilities. Results: A total of 125 databases were identified globally (Europe, North- and South-America, Asian/Pacific area, and Africa) and were invited to participate to a survey. To date, 61 answers were received (49%), with 52% of respondents (N = 32) agreeing to collaborate with the GRiP network in future pharmacoepidemiology studies. Collaborating databases are located in 8 different European countries (N = 21), in 4 Asian/Pacific area countries (N = 5), in Canada (N = 4) and in the US (N = 2); one is available in more than one country. The data sources comprise a total of 40 million children (