Databank research
A strong focus of the Centre for Prognosis Studies for the Rheumatic Diseases
is its use of databank research.
The Lupus Databank Research Program is the largest databank of its kind
and provides the centre with the ability to conduct long term research.
Established in 1987 originally at Wellesley Hospital, the databank contains
medical information on 750 patients. At each visit, over 200 specific items
of information are collected using a standard data collection protocol.
"With this data, we are able to further identify specific subsets of
patient outcomes and clinical-laboratory correlations," Dr. Urowitz
says. "Using extensive statistical analyses, data from our clinic has
been used in several important studies to date with clinical impact. Databank
research leads to immediate patient impact."
The Centre for Prognosis Studies in the Rheumatic Diseases is staffed by
a health care team of rheumatologists and researchers as well as a biostatistician
and a computer programmer. In addition to lupus, the centre focuses on psoriatic
arthritis, a condition that causes pain and swelling in some joints and
scaly skin patches on some areas of the body. A similar initiative to the
lupus databank will be established for rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic
diseases such as fibromyalgia.
For further information from The Toronto Hospital please e-mail
[email protected]
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