The Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), run by
the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA),
has contributed to nearly 3,800 peer-reviewed
research publications since 1988, according to a new scientometric analysis
published in the European Journal of Epidemiology.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Oxford
and the MHRA's CPRD team (Eleanor Axson,
Maria Rahman and Susan Hodgson), reveals the
substantial global impact of this UK-based health data resource
in advancing medical knowledge, improving
patient safety and informing healthcare policy.
Key findings include:
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3,779 peer-reviewed publications have used CPRD data between
1988 and 2024
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Research output has grown at an average annual rate of
16.37%
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Researchers from 29 countries have used CPRD data,
with the UK, United States and Canada as leading
contributors
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Over 80% of recent studies have used primary care
records linked with
hospital, mortality or other health
datasets, demonstrating the value of connected
health data
CPRD is a not-for-profit government research service that
provides anonymised patient data from GP practices across the UK.
The database currently holds records for over 71 million
patients, supporting research that has informed drug safety
decisions, clinical guidelines and public health
policy.
Eleanor Axson, co-author and Senior
Researcher in the MHRA's CPRD team, said:
These findings show the UK is a global leader in health data
research. This analysis confirms that researchers
from 29 countries are using this resource to answer
important questions about drug safety and patient outcomes. This
international collaboration strengthens our ability to protect
public health, both here in the UK and around the world.
The research highlights that studies using CPRD data have been
published in more than 600 peer-reviewed journals, with BMJ Open
and Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety among the most frequent
outlets. Seven UK universities rank among the top ten most
productive research institutions using CPRD data.
Notes to editors
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The Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) is jointly
sponsored by the MHRA and the National Institute for Health
and Care Research (NIHR).
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CPRD comprises two primary care databases: CPRD GOLD
(established 1987) and CPRD Aurum (launched 2017),
with linkages to hospital records,
mortality data and other health datasets.
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The full study, “Academic impact and
research data utilisation of the clinical practice research
datalink: scientometric analyses,” is
published in the European Journal of Epidemiology.
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For more information about CPRD, visit: www.cprd.com
