Truveta, a healthcare data analysis company, is making waves in the research world with the launch of its new mother-child electronic health record (EHR) dataset. This dataset, the largest of its kind according to Truveta, holds immense potential to improve maternal and pediatric health outcomes through more comprehensive research.
The dataset boasts over 1 million mother-child pairs collected from 30 health systems across the United States. Spanning a timeframe of 5 to 10 years, it offers researchers an unparalleled view into the continuum of care, encompassing pre-pregnancy, pregnancy itself, and childbirth, all the way through to a child’s fifth birthday.
Historically, perinatal women and their children have been largely excluded from clinical trials and major data sources, as Truveta executives argue. This lack of data hinders researchers’ ability to fully understand the effects of medications, vaccines, and even diseases on both mothers and their children. Additionally, executives highlight the limitations of studying maternal-fetal health solely through claims data.
Truveta’s dataset goes beyond traditional claims data, offering researchers a richer tapestry of information. It includes clinician notes and images, along with linked claims data, social determinants of health factors, and even mortality data. This comprehensive approach allows researchers to delve deeper, examining everything from a mother’s entire medication and immunization history during pregnancy to specific pregnancy outcomes, diagnoses, and procedures. Similarly, for children, the dataset details the type of delivery, any complications or outcomes, demographics, diagnoses, procedures, and immunizations up to the age of 5.
The potential applications of this data are vast. Researchers could use it to study the connection between a mother’s health and the newborn’s health, a crucial area for improving neonatal outcomes. It could also be instrumental in monitoring the post-market safety of medications or vaccines for chronic diseases administered during pregnancy, allowing researchers to assess potential effects on children. Additionally, the dataset could be used to investigate the use of specific medications during pregnancy and their long-term impact on children’s health. Furthermore, researchers could explore potential correlations between pediatric conditions and various factors related to the birth mother, including demographics, medical history, and more.
Truveta’s commitment to advancing maternal and pediatric health research is further evidenced by their recent multi-million-dollar contract with the CDC. This collaboration will support the agency’s research efforts in these critical areas, including maternal health, pediatric care, and respiratory viruses.
Truveta recognizes the challenges that have plagued healthcare research in the past, namely fragmented, heterogeneous data sources and privacy concerns. Their solution lies in their ability to leverage advanced algorithms to connect de-identified EHR data from millions of mothers with their children. This approach allows researchers to analyze vast amounts of real-world data while maintaining patient privacy.
Just this week, Truveta further expanded its offerings with the availability of new functionalities. Researchers now have access to new concepts extracted from clinical notes using artificial intelligence (AI). These concepts include crucial details like medication details, family history, and complex medical situations often captured in unstructured text format within clinician notes. Traditionally, such information might be missing from medical claims data. Additionally, a new Truveta imaging viewer allows researchers to efficiently review large volumes of medical images simultaneously.
Truveta’s flagship dataset, Truveta Data, holds de-identified patient information for over 100 million individuals across the United States. This data encompasses information from more than 800 hospitals and 20,000 clinics, ensuring a robust and geographically diverse dataset. Importantly, all data adheres to HIPAA regulations, guaranteeing patient privacy.
The launch of Truveta’s mother-child EHR dataset marks a significant leap forward in maternal and pediatric health research. By providing researchers with a more comprehensive and accessible view into real-world patient data, Truveta paves the way for groundbreaking discoveries that can ultimately improve the lives of mothers and children everywhere.
