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Using electronic health record data for environmental and place based population health research: a systematic review
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Using electronic health record data for environmental and place based population health research: a systematic review

Leah H. Schinasi, Amy H. Auchincloss, Christopher B. Forrest and Ana V. Diez Roux
Annals of epidemiology, v 28(7), pp 493-502
Jul 2018
PMID: 29628285
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel

Abstract

Environmental exposure/adverse effects Residence characteristics Electronic Health Records Geographic Information Systems
We conducted a systematic review of literature published on January 2000–May 2017 that spatially linked electronic health record (EHR) data with environmental information for population health research. We abstracted information on the environmental and health outcome variables and the methods and data sources used. The automated search yielded 669 articles; 128 articles are included in the full review. The number of articles increased by publication year; the majority (80%) were from the United States, and the mean sample size was approximately 160,000. Most articles used cross-sectional (44%) or longitudinal (40%) designs. Common outcomes were health care utilization (32%), cardiometabolic conditions/obesity (23%), and asthma/respiratory conditions (10%). Common environmental variables were sociodemographic measures (42%), proximity to medical facilities (15%), and built environment and land use (13%). The most common spatial identifiers were administrative units (59%), such as census tracts. Residential addresses were also commonly used to assign point locations, or to calculate distances or buffer areas. Future research should include more detailed descriptions of methods used to geocode addresses, focus on a broader array of health outcomes, and describe linkage methods. Studies should also explore using longitudinal residential address histories to evaluate associations between time-varying environmental variables and health outcomes.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
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