Eur J Phys Rehabil Med 2024 Feb 28;60(1):145–153

Table IV. —Description of linked data holdings at ICES for target trial emulation in the stroke rehabilitation example.

Description of ICES (originally known as the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences)	Examples of data holdings at ICES used for stroke rehabilitation example
• In the stroke rehabilitation example of this paper, answering the proposed causal question using target trial emulation could be conducted using data holdings at ICES, including linked registry databases and population-based administrative data • ICES is an independent, non-profit research institute whose legal status under Ontario’s health information privacy law allows it to collect and analyze health care and demographic data, without consent, for health system evaluation and improvement • Data holdings at ICES, including linked registry databases and population-based administrative data, could be used for Target Trial Emulation of the stated example because they capture relevant information on inpatient stroke rehabilitation, risk of fracture, a wide range of potential confounders, and other data elements as described in Table III	• Ontario Stroke Registry, which collects clinical information on a population-based sample of patients with stroke or TIA seen at all acute care institutions in Ontario • National Rehabilitation Reporting System (NRS), which collects data on inpatient rehabilitation, including rehabilitation services for stroke and TIA Ontario Stroke Registry and NRS can be linked to administrative databases using unique, encoded patient identifiers: • Canadian Institute for Health Information Discharge Abstract Database (CIHI-DAD) and National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS) to capture hospitalizations and emergency department visits for fractures, falls, and other medical conditions • Ontario Health Insurance Plan (physician claims) database to capture outpatient physician visits and procedures • Registered Persons Database (RPDB) to identify deaths • Ontario Drug Benefits database to capture medication claims (for those ≥65 years)

Description of ICES (originally known as the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences)

Examples of data holdings at ICES used for stroke rehabilitation example

• In the stroke rehabilitation example of this paper, answering the proposed causal question using target trial emulation could be conducted using data holdings at ICES, including linked registry databases and population-based administrative data
• ICES is an independent, non-profit research institute whose legal status under Ontario’s health information privacy law allows it to collect and analyze health care and demographic data, without consent, for health system evaluation and improvement
• Data holdings at ICES, including linked registry databases and population-based administrative data, could be used for Target Trial Emulation of the stated example because they capture relevant information on inpatient stroke rehabilitation, risk of fracture, a wide range of potential confounders, and other data elements as described in Table III

• Ontario Stroke Registry, which collects clinical information on a population-based sample of patients with stroke or TIA seen at all acute care institutions in Ontario
• National Rehabilitation Reporting System (NRS), which collects data on inpatient rehabilitation, including rehabilitation services for stroke and TIA
Ontario Stroke Registry and NRS can be linked to administrative databases using unique, encoded patient identifiers:
• Canadian Institute for Health Information Discharge Abstract Database (CIHI-DAD) and National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS) to capture hospitalizations and emergency department visits for fractures, falls, and other medical conditions
• Ontario Health Insurance Plan (physician claims) database to capture outpatient physician visits and procedures
• Registered Persons Database (RPDB) to identify deaths
• Ontario Drug Benefits database to capture medication claims (for those ≥65 years)