Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38773431›Full record

ArticleBMC primary care2024

Using a general practice research database to assess the spatio-temporal COVID-19 risk.

Oana Petrof, Thomas Neyens, Bert Vaes, Arne Janssens, Christel Faes

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC primary care, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Data resource profile: the Intego-II primary care database.International journal of epidemiology · 2025
    Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Oana PetrofI-Biostat, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium. oana.petrof@uhasselt.be.
Thomas NeyensI-Biostat, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
Bert VaesDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Arne JanssensDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Christel FaesI-Biostat, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.

Funding

Internal Funds KU Leuven 3M190682
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn Flanders, general practitioners (GPs) were among the first ones to collect data regarding COVID-19 cases. Intego is a GPs' morbidity registry in primary care with data collected from the electronic medical records from a sample of general practices. The Intego database contain elaborate information regarding patient characteristics, such as comorbidities. At the national level, the Belgian Public Health Institute (Sciensano) recorded all test-confirmed COVID-19 cases, but without other patient characteristics.

methodsSpatio and spatio-temporal analyses were used to analyse the spread of COVID-19 incidence at two levels of spatial aggregation: the municipality and the health sector levels. Our study goal was to compare spatio-temporal modelling results based on the Intego and Sciensano data, in order to see whether the Intego database is capable of detecting epidemiological trends similar to those in the Sciensano data. Comparable results would allow researchers to use these Intego data, and their wealth of patient information, to model COVID-19-related processes.

resultsThe two data sources provided comparable results. Being a male decreased the odds of having COVID-19 disease. The odds for the age categories (17,35], (35,65] and (65,110] of being a confirmed COVID-19 case were significantly higher than the odds for the age category [0,17]. In the Intego data, having one of the following comorbidities, i.e., chronic kidney disease, heart and vascular disease, and diabetes, was significantly associated with being a COVID-19 case, increasing the odds of being diagnosed with COVID-19.

conclusionWe were able to show how an alternative data source, the Intego data, can be used in a pandemic situation. We consider our findings useful for public health officials who plan intervention strategies aimed at monitor and control disease outbreaks such as that of COVID-19.

Indexed as

COVID-19Databases, FactualGeneral PracticeSpatio-Temporal AnalysisAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overBelgiumComorbidityElectronic Health RecordsFemaleHumansIncidenceMaleMiddle AgedComorbiditiesCOVID-19Spatio-temporal methods

Identifiers

PMID38773431
PMCPMC11106891

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.