Quality of Reporting Electronic Health Record Data in Glaucoma: A Systematic Literature Review.

TOPIC: Assessing Reporting Standards in Glaucoma Studies Utilizing Electronic Health Records (EHR) CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Glaucoma's significance, underscored by its status as a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, necessitates reliable research findings. This study evaluates adherence to the CODE-EHR Framework in glaucoma studies using EHR, aiming to improve clinical care and patient outcomes.

METHODS: A systematic review, following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO CRD42023430025), identified relevant studies (January 2022-May 2023) in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science. Eligible studies, using EHR data from clinical institutions for glaucoma research, were assessed for study design, participant characteristics, EHR data, and sources. Quality appraisal used the CODE-EHR Framework, focusing on data construction, linkage, fitness for purpose, disease and outcome definitions, analysis, and ethics and governance.

RESULTS: Of 31 identified studies, predominant EHR sources were hospitals and clinical warehouses. Commonly reported elements included age, gender, glaucoma diagnosis, and intraocular pressure. Only 16% fully adhered to CODE-EHR Framework's minimum standards, with none meeting preferred standards. While statistical analysis and ethical considerations were relatively well-addressed, areas such as EHR data management and study design showed room for improvement. Patient and public involvement, and acknowledgment of data linkage processes, data security and storage reporting were often missed.

CONCLUSION: Adherence to CODE-EHR Framework's standards in EHR-based studies of glaucoma can be improved upon. Standardised reporting of EHR data is essential to ensure the reliability of research, facilitating its translation into clinical practice and improving healthcare decision-making for better patient outcomes.