A Flexible Computer System for Renal Transplant Information^[*]

Summary

Renal transplantation is a life-sustaining treatment for a person whose kidneys cease to function. The duration of graft and patient survival time is extremely variable from patient to patient. A subset of the potential risk factors has been selected for study at the University of Minnesota, where 2,247 renal transplants were performed between January 1, 1968 and December 31, 1985.

A computer system for storing and analyzing these risk factors has been successfully implemented at the University of Minnesota. Its design facilitates fast turnaround time, flexibility and timeliness of information. Further, routine operations require a minimum of clinician involvement. A part-time data abstractor collects and updates the information. A full-time biometrician manages and analyzes the data.

The renal transplant computer system was implemented in 1976. The system produces reports, generates matched pair control groups and calculates frequencies, crosstabulations and life tables. It is capable of handling clinical trials as well as retrospective studies.

Die Nierentransplantation ist eine lebenserhaltende Behandlungsform für einen Menschen, dessen Nieren nicht mehr arbeiten. Die Haltbarkeit des Transplantats und die Überlebenszeit sind von Patient zu Patient außerordentlich unterschiedlich. Eine Teilmenge potentieller Risikofaktoren wurde für eine Studie an der Universität von Minnesota ausgewählt, wo zwischen dem 1. Januar 1968 und dem 31. Dezember 1985 2247 Nierentransplantationen vorgenommen wurden.

Ein Computersystem zur Speicherung und Analysierung dieser Risikofaktoren wurde an der Universität von Minnesota erfolgreich implementiert. Seine Gestaltung ermöglicht eine schnelle Weitergabe, Flexibilität und Rechtzeitigkeit der Information. Weiterhin erfordert der Routinebetrieb ein Mindestmaß an Beteiligung des Klinikers. Ein Teilzeitdatenbearbeiter sammelt und ergänzt die Informationen; ein vollbeschäftigter Biometriker handhabt und analysiert die Daten.

Das Computersystem für die Nierentransplantation wurde im Jahr 1976 eingeführt. Das System erstellt Berichte, generiert Kontrollgruppen abgestimmter Vergleichspaare und berechnet Häufigkeiten, Kreuztabellen und Überlebenstafeln. Es ist in der Lage, klinische Versuchsreihen und auch retrospektive Studien zu handhaben.

Key-Words

Computer System - Information Retrieval - Data Analysis - Transplantation - Data Base

Schlüssel-Wörter

Computersystem - Informatiçnsgewinnung - Datenanalyse - Transplantation - Datenbank

^* This work was supported by United States Public Health Service Grant AM13083.

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