Abstract
A database is on organized repository of data Prospective collection of patient information in a database ('databasing') has been attempted by a few consortia of MS investigators over the past 10 years. This approach promises to facilitate epidemiologic research in MS and investigation of the natural history of the disease and how it might be altered by long-term treatments such os interferon beta. Databasing has some advantages over clinical trials in assessing new therapies, primarily because the focus is on long-term effectiveness in an entire population rather than short-term statistical significance in a highly selected population. The limitations of databasing and strategies to overcome these limitations are addressed.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 206-211 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Multiple Sclerosis |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1999 |
Keywords
- Databases
- Epidemiology
- Multiple sclerosis
- Natural history
- Prognosis
- Therapy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology