Abstract
The Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP), a longitudinal population-based database,
is the largest epidemiologic database in the world. Originally established at Mayo
Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, the REP has been instrumental in defining the natural
history of disease states and the impact of treatment in a well-defined population.
In the United States, the REP has made important contributions to the colon and rectal
literature, largely because healthcare is fragmented with no unique identifier to
longitudinally follow-up with a patient throughout the system over his or her lifespan.
Investigation with the REP has provided insight to the economic burden associated
with inflammatory bowel disease, the benefit of screening for colorectal cancer, and
the natural history of Mekel's and diverticular disease. In addition to practice changing
research, the REP can be used as a model for future linkage systems in the United
States.
Keywords
Rochester Epidemiology Project - population-based database - inflammatory bowel disease
- colon and rectal cancer - diverticulitis
