2024 Volume 44 Issue 2 Pages 87-104
With digitalization, the collection and accumulation of medical data is progressing. On the other hand, there are various limitations when using each data continuously in time and cross-sectionally from the perspective of data type. It is important to understand the status and issues regarding the continuity and usability of medical data collected and accumulated over the individual's life course, from pregnancy and birth to death, and to deepen consideration for future data utilization. In this study, we focused on events in the life course of individuals. The research scope is limited to those for which data is recorded, collected, and accumulated under the Japanese legal system or national policy, and are common to all citizens, and data that occurs due to specific illness, work-related accidents, and nursing care.
The results were analyzed from the perspectives of (1) to store lifetime medical data in an analyzable form, (2) to link lifetime medical data on an individual axis, and (3) to permit the use of data for research purposes.
While there are legal systems and national policies in place to collect medical data for each event, it became clear that there is several issues and constraints for continuous or cross-sectional utilization of lifelong medical data, such as identifiers for linking individual data and continuous data management.
