Current Trends of Big Data Research Using the Korean National Health Information Database - PubMed (original) (raw)

Review

Mee Kyoung Kim et al. Diabetes Metab J. 2022 Jul.

Abstract

Recently, medical research using big data has become very popular, and its value has become increasingly recognized. The Korean National Health Information Database (NHID) is representative of big data that combines information obtained from the National Health Insurance Service collected for claims and reimbursement of health care services and results obtained from general health examinations provided to all Korean adults. This database has several strengths and limitations. Given the large size, various laboratory data, and questionnaires obtained from medical check-ups, their longitudinal nature, and long-term accumulation of data since 2002, carefully designed studies may provide valuable information that is difficult to obtain from other forms of research. However, consideration of possible bias and careful interpretation when defining causal relationships is also important because the data were not collected for research purposes. After the NHID became publicly available, research and publications based on this database have increased explosively, especially in the field of diabetes and metabolism. This article reviews the history, structure, and characteristics of the Korean NHID. Recent trends in big data research using this database, commonly used operational diagnosis, and representative studies have been introduced. We expect further progress and expansion of big data research using the Korean NHID.

Keywords: Database; Diabetes mellitus; Korea; Metabolism; National health programs.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Seung-Hwan Lee has been associate editors of the Diabetes & Metabolism Journal since 2022. He was not involved in the review process of this review. Otherwise, there was no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1

Fig. 1

Operational structure of National Health Insurance System (NHIS). Reproduced from Kim et al. [4]. HIRA, Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service.

Fig. 2

Fig. 2

The number of publications using National Health Information database from 2008 to 2021.

References

    1. National Health Insurance Service National Health Insurance statistical yearbook. 2020. Available from: https://www.nhis.or.kr/nhis/together/wbhaec06300m01.do?mode=view&article...(updated 2021 Nov 5)
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    1. Kim HK, Song SO, Noh J, Jeong IK, Lee BW. Data configuration and publication trends for the Korean National Health Insurance and Health Insurance Review & Assessment Database. Diabetes Metab J. 2020;44:671–8. - PMC - PubMed
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